How Twins are Made

I thought this blog needed something cute after the last couple of posts!

Casting Down Imaginations

If you didn't read yesterday's post "Peace that Passes Understanding" it would be a good idea to do that now, otherwise today's post may not make a lot of sense.

Yesterday's post was mostly the facts, what happened Monday afternoon. But let me tell you what has gone on since then. I have fought the biggest battle of fear that I have ever faced in my life. Obviously, Monday I was a mess. I didn't sleep much Monday night, heard every creak of our house. Tuesday, I got up and ran, but kept replaying all the "what ifs" in my mind. All day, I heard every creak. Starting at about 3:00 I paced back and forth, checking out front, watching. I'm telling you, it was bad! The police officer returned with photos and I was unable to identify any of the suspects. Fear was literally making me sick - I had a headache that would not quit.

Les had a meeting in San Diego on Tuesday. He usually gets home from those meetings around 7:30 or 8:00. I got an email from him letting me know he would be late. Once it was dark, I turned all my outside lights on. He called at 9:15 to let me know he was about an hour and half away. Since we are "early birds", I'm usually in bed by 9:30 or so. I made my way upstairs, leaving a hall light on, and prepared for bed. As I tried to go to sleep, I heard every creak (real and imagined). My heart was racing as I imagined someone trying to get in our house. I was a mess!

Wednesday morning while out running (it's not like I was going to sleep anyway) I asked God for peace. I asked for the peace that passes understanding. Throughout the day, peace began to replace fear. I was calmer and not nearly as frightened. My headache finally went away.

Thursday morning while I was running, I was thinking about the verse "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5) While thinking of that verse, I knew that I was fearing things that DID NOT HAPPEN. The things I feared were only in my imagination.

But the real revelation came when I realized that since Monday, the only things I had prayed about were my fears. I had prayed for protection. I had prayed that they wouldn't come back. BUT, I had not prayed for one other person in need! I know of people who are in dire need of healing, but I had not prayed for them a single time. Our friend with a brain tumor, who was in church with us Sunday morning? I hadn't given him and his wife a single thought! I was praying for things I imagined!!

This literally stopped me in my tracks. I said, "God, forgive me." This was ridiculous! I kicked fear to the curb and ran on! I was a little angry at myself and a lot angry at the devil. What a trick! He knows I've been praying for serious needs. I've been praying with faith, believing. God has been moving and answering. So the devil tried to take control of my mind by putting so much fear there I couldn't even move.

I cannot imagine living a life of fear. What an existence. If you are fearful, please turn to God and His Word. There is deliverance from fear. God does not want you to live like that. If you fear every pain or lump is cancerous, if you fear every mistake will get you fired, if you fear every sound is a burglar, ask God to remove those fears! Yes, troubles will come in life, but fearing those things that are only imagined is not the will of God. I could give a ton of verses about fear and peace, but if you are living that life, it would do you a lot more good to find those verses on your own. Study them, memorize them, write them on post-it notes, pray them. God can and wants to deliver you from fear.

Am I talking about being careless? Of course not! It's not wise to walk down a dark alley in Watts at 1:00 in the morning. God wants us to be aware, not fearful. Our doors were locked, but our alarms were not activated on Monday. We have reactivated the alarms. Does that make me fearful? No, it means I am doing what I can to avoid dangerous situations and trusting God to protect me. I am resisting the spirit of fear and casting down imaginations.

Peace that Passes Understanding

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7

Let me start this blog by saying: I AM OKAY.

Now that I've got your attention, I'll tell you what happened Monday afternoon.

It was about 3:15, I was exchanging emails with my friend, Sis. Cynthia, when someone knocked on my front door. We have a very quiet neighborhood, and it is usually the UPS or Fed Ex guy leaving a package. The knocking persisted. And persisted. I looked out the peephole and couldn't tell who it was. I peeked out the front window and saw a car I did not recognized. The knocking continued...

At this point, something started not to "feel right". I cannot explain it, other than it just didn't. I headed upstairs to get a better look, without being seen. The knocking continued...

I saw the passenger in the car motioning. The motion was not "come on, let's go." It was "knocking" and the knocking continued...

The passenger then got out of the car and came to the front of the house. He stopped in the grass near our water facet, while the knocking continued...

A third person joined the group, just as suspect number 2 opened my side gate. All three proceeded into my back yard and around the house. Yep, I'm freaking out at this point. What is going on?! I then realized I was in a part of the house that did not have a phone. To get to a phone, I would have to walk across an open hallway, exposing myself to the perps in my backyard.

I was praying and trembling with fear when I heard our sliding glass door open (and YES, it was locked!). THEY WERE IN MY HOUSE!!! Dear Jesus, what am I going to do? What will they do if they find me?

I was in the bedroom directly above our dining room where they were. I must have moved and made a board creak (or the Lord made a noise to startle them), because after about 15 seconds in the house, they skedaddled back out, out to the car, and sped away! I immediately sprinted to my bedroom and called 9-1-1.

It took several minutes for me to get the story out to the 9-1-1 operator. My voice was shaking and my heart was racing. SOMEONE HAD BROKEN IN TO MY HOUSE, WHILE I WAS THERE!!! Nothing was taken except my peace of mind. I was scared out of my wits. A police officer was dispatched, and while I waited, I called Les who headed straight home.

I have quoted and prayed every verse I know about fear and peace. I have sung songs about being "sheltered in the arms of God" and the "Peace Speaker." The very next day, my Verse of the Day on my blog was "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13

I am still claiming that peace, I will NOT let fear destroy me or hold me captive. What happened was real, but GOD protected me. I was NOT harmed. All the horrible things that I imagined did NOT happen. I believe God kept me from opening the front door. Would they have forced their way in? I don't know. But the Lord kept me from harm. I am taking back my peace of mind - they can't have it and neither can the devil.

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1

Knowing When to Stop

Lord,
Help us not to talk too much -
Because talking too much is like driving too fast.
Sometimes the brakes are not good.
And we pass by the place where we intended to stop.

When we talk too much,
We know we go beyond the truth and we lie.

We also know that
Speaking too much derails us from life's track.

From "God is No Stranger"

I love this thought. Comparing our mouths to a vehicle. There are accidents on Southern California freeways everyday because someone didn't stop in time. They were driving too fast, probably distracted by their cell phone or putting on makeup, and when it came time to stop their brakes couldn't do the job.

The damage that is done when we don't stop our mouths in time can ruin a friendship, destroy a child, or cast doubt in the mind of the hearer. Lord, help me to shut my mouth before I pass the place I needed to stop.

Building Memorials

Many times in the Bible we read the word "memorial." God wants His children to remember what He has done in their lives. When I look back over my years of serving God, there are several instances that I consider memorials - the night I was baptized in Jesus name and the night I received the Holy Ghost at Youth Camp.

A very significant, life changing, memorial occurred during a revival with evangelist Bro. Nathan Hurst when I was a junior in high school. It wasn't just one service, but several things that Bro. Hurst said that made a change in my life. At that point, I was being a young person in the church, not living in rebellion, but not what I would consider "sold out." Bro. Hurst is not too many years older than I am, so maybe it was his youth that caused me to listen a little more closely. Of course his wife, Sis. Ronda Hurst, is special because she is one of the daughters of my first pastor, Bro. Layne.


Two things occurred in our Youth Sunday school class.

Bro. Hurst talked to us about dating. He pointed out how important it was to treat those we dated with utmost respect. He said he could go to any church, where there were girls he had dated before he was married, and he was not ashamed of anything that happened during those times. This really made me stop and think about what kind of "date" I wanted to be. I look back now, and can say the same thing - I am not ashamed of my dating years.

Another time, Bro. Hurst talked to our class about "being young people." He said, so often people will say "they're just being young people," when a youth group is not on fire for God. I'll never forget when he said, "there will be a group of young people that will just be 'being young people' when the rapture takes place." WOW! You mean I can't take it for granted that the Lord won't come back before I'm an adult? This was very sobering to me.

But the "icing on the cake" of this revival was a Friday night, and if my memory is correct it wasn't a blowout service. In fact, it was a quieter service. Bro. and Sis. Hurst probably sang "Serving God is Beautiful", because that was the title of Bro. Hurst's message. He talked about serving God because of love or because of fear. Serving God out of fear wouldn't keep me in the long run. I made up my mind THAT NIGHT, that I would serve God because I loved Him and I would let Him make my life beautiful.

I have looked back on that night many, many times, and I know it was a turning point. Serving God is not a drudgery! It is the best life! There is no other way I want to live. God has blessed me beyond anything I ever dreamed. He has walked with me, kept me, provided, and comforted. I have done my best to stay in His will. More than once when I was single, I had my pastor say "no" about someone I was interested in. I determined that I would listen, and trust God and my pastor to make my life beautiful. God has done more for me than I deserve and I plan to "serve Him because I love Him" all the days of my life.

Conversations with Kids

I was in Santa Clarita Saturday night to celebrate the one year anniversary of our daughter work there. I had two munchkins sitting with me part of the service - Caitlin and Nicolas Flores (ages 6 and 4). These are two of my best buds!

While announcements were being made, I had a hilarious conversation with Nic that went like this:

Nic: We saw so many things on our way here.
Me: You did?
Nic: Yeah (big smile)
Me: What?
Nic: I fordot! (forgot)

Caitlin then wanted to draw. Of course I always have a notepad in my Bible (and I always take my Bible to church) so I was happy to loan my notepad to her. Here is what the little first grader wrote:

You are the best.

I'm thinking "how sweet."

You are cute.

She's my new BFF!

You are very fat.

Now wait a minute kid! I'll send you back to your mother if you keep this up!

You are my dad.

I don't think so!

You are my mom.

Hmmmm....

My name is KK.

Okay, so she wasn't writing about me, just writing what she knows!

It made me wonder - how often do we do that with God's Word? Every word is written to us. We shout with joy over "I am come that ye might have life and that more abundantly," but "pray without ceasing" was written for someone else. "He shall give thee the desires of thine heart" warms our hearts, but "pray the Lord of the harvest will send for laborers" is for home and foreign missionaries. Sorry, we can't pick and choose - it is all for us.

His Marketplace

Lord,
We have come to Your marketplace.
We know there are plenty of provisions in Your market.
We have brought our baskets with us;
and now we want to go back from Your market
with our baskets full of provisions.



This morning the preacher will
Distribute Your Word
Without ration cards.

- both from "God is No Stranger"

Hope you've got your baskets ready - have good church today!!

Friday Foodie

Les' brother, Lance, flew out from Indiana this week. The two of them have been riding bikes everywhere and Lance is enjoying a break from the horrid Indiana weather. Knowing that they needed carbs, I decided to make lasagna. Not a new dish by any means, BUT, I found a website called A Year of CrockPotting. The author cooked a meal in her crock pot everyday in 2008! So I thought I would give her lasagna recipe a try. Especially appealing to me was NOT having to cook the lasagna noodles! The author did admit to gaining 8 pounds over the course of last year, so I'll be analyzing her recipes that appeal to me and making healthy adjustments. You can view her original recipe by going to her website, then search her labels for Italian. Here's my version:

Crock Pot Lasagna



1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
1 zucchini, chopped
1/2 c. shredded carrots
4 small mushrooms, chopped
15 oz. low fat Ricotta cheese
1 28 oz. jar of pasta sauce
1 1/2 c. low fat Mozzarella cheese
6 pieces whole wheat lasagna
1/2 pound ground beef or ground turkey (I used frozen turkey meatballs that I had on hand)

Brown meat, add seasonings of choice, add jar of sauce. Keep jar, do not rinse.

Begin layering ingredients in crock pot as follows (my ingredients made 3 layers):

Meat sauce
Lasagna (break to fit, I found that turning them at an angle worked best, 2 pieces per layer)
Ricotta cheese
Vegetables
Mozzarella cheese (1/2 cup per layer)

Add 1/2 c. water to pasta sauce jar, shake well, then pour on top of lasagna. Cook on high 4 hours (or low 8 hours.) After about an hour, I started smelling some yumminess! Check the dish occasionally to make sure all lasagna noodles are covered so they don't get hard.

This took about 20 minutes to prepare, including chopping the veggies. The meatballs I used were already cooked, I thawed them slightly and cut them up in small pieces (like ground turkey or ground beef).

This made 10 servings, but with hungry cyclists here, it was the right thing to make! Nutritional facts: 244 calories, 5 g fiber, 9 g fat - 5 WW points per serving.

Scale 1-5? 5. I have absolutely no complaints about this meal. I was concerned that it would be a mess to get out of the crock pot, but it came out in beautiful pieces, no falling apart at all! The picture is just before I turned my crock pot on - I didn't get an "after" picture because 2 very hungry cyclists came in the door, smelled the food, and dug right in! (I made this on Wednesday and there is one serving left as of Friday morning. I love it when food gets devoured!)

On another food related note, the LA Times had an interesting article on Wednesday called 'Joy of Cooking' or 'Joy of Obesity.' A study found that calories per serving in the latest edition of "Joy of Cooking" are 63% higher than the original book published in 1931! I found this especially interesting because the recipes I have tried have generally produced much more food than the 4 or 6 servings listed.

The study found that some of the added calories in the dishes came from a substitution of ingredients -- extra meat instead of vegetables, for example. Back in the day, meat was expensive, so less of it was used. The editor of the latest edition didn't seem to be too concerned. "We give Americans credit," she said, "for knowing that eating a brownie is not as good as eating a plate of whole grains and vegetables."

By the looks of many Americans, she gave us way too much credit! Especially if you grew up in the "Clean Your Plate" generation, you know that getting that brownie means eating everything on your plate first!

How to Have a Happy Home

Many of you have seen "How to Be a Good Wife" from a 1950s high school textbook. Several years ago, while working a full time job that included a 30 minute commute, I made my own version of "How to be a Good Husband."

How To Be A Good Wife

How To Be A Good Husband

(The following is an excerpt from a 1950s high school home economics textbook)

(from Kathy McElhaney’s Y2K marriage handbook)

Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal - - on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal is a part of the warm welcome needed.

Be on time for dinner. Plan ahead, if you know you have a last minute meeting, send your wife an email. This is a way of letting her know that you have been thinking about her and are concerned about her needs. Most women rush home from a busy day in the office and the thought of preparing a 15 minute meal is the last thing they want to do, especially if it’s going to sit on the stove for an hour, getting cold.

Prepare Yourself. Take fifteen minutes to rest so that you will be refreshed when he arrives. Wash your face, pinch your cheeks, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.

Prepare Yourself. Realize that your wife will be work-weary – she must make the choice of cooking dinner or fixing herself up for your arrival – she can’t do both!

Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part the house just before your husband arrives, gathering up school books, toys, paper, etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift, too.

Clear away the clutter. She really appreciates it when you take the trash out before the whole house smells. As you go through the house, don’t drop your briefcase on the couch and the paper on the floor. If the house is not as orderly as you would like, feel free to pick up some of your mess.

Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children’s hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair, and if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.

Offer to pickup the children. If you’ll take the time to get the kids from daycare your wife will have a few more minutes to get dinner ready. Of course, if you’re not there by 6:00, be prepared to pay $1.00 a minute late, per child. They are little treasures and you did have a part in bringing them into the world.

Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad to see him.

Ignore the noise. Since you’ve both been gone all day, expect the noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to yell outside. Be happy to see her. Greet her with a warm smile and be glad to see her.

Some “do nots”: Don’t greet him with problems and complaints. Don’t complain if he is late for dinner. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest that he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange a pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind.

Some “do nots”: Don’t greet her with problems and complaints. Don’t complain she is late getting dinner on the table. Count this as minor compared to what she might have gone through that day. Make yourself useful. Set the table, or even offer to finish cooking so she can sit down for a few minutes. Don’t start eating whatever is available, even if you are starving – she is too. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. If you can get through dinner, dishes and homework, you both might be able relax and unwind.

Listen to him. You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first.

Listen to her. You may have a dozen things to tell her, but the moment of your arrival is not the time. Let her talk first.

Make the evening his. Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other pleasant entertainment. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to unwind and relax.

Make the evening hers. Never complain if she does not make dinner and you need to go out – the food’s probably better anyway. Try to understand her world of strain and pressure, her need to unwind and relax.

The goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can relax in body and spirit.

The goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where you both can relax in body and spirit.

My portion was all written in jest and a heavy dose of sarcasm, except the final line: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where you both can relax in body and spirit.

Museum of Tolerance

As I mentioned yesterday, Les and I spent Monday at the Museum of Tolerance. The museum is filled with artifacts from the Holocaust and also has exhibits dedicated to fighting intolerance today, including "Through the Eyes of Children - Drawings from Darfur." Monday's Los Angeles Times featured another Holocaust survivor, Sol Berger. The timing of the story seemed quite ironic since we had just spent the day at the MOT.

Our guide into the museum is the daughter of a Holocaust survivor. Joanna's father had an entire family in Poland that was wiped out during the Holocaust. He survived and immigrated to the United States to begin a new life.

We listened to Holocaust survivor, Gloria Ungar, speak for more than 45 minutes. She was just a child in Poland when the invasion began. Her father had six siblings, each married with children. Of her entire extended family, only she and one brother survived.

Gloria's family was able to escape to Slovakia for a time, but eventually the Nazis invaded that country as well. The escape to Slovakia was a night time trek through a dark forest. Most of Gloria's family had already made it to Slovakia when it was her turn to go. Gloria, her younger brother, and a young cousin were led through the forest by a paid guide. Because they were so young, keeping up was extremely difficult and at one point the guide decided they weren't worth the trouble. Gloria clung to him and begged him to take them to her parents, he relented and they made it to Slovakia.

Gloria told of her mother's death. She told of living in a food cellar in the home of a Christian lady with her father and her two brothers. The cellar was so small they couldn't even sit up. It was also so air tight, a candle would not remain lit.

Gloria's family was eventually rounded up for "resettlement". What this really meant was a journey to Auschwitz. Gloria was 13 years old at this time. She had become separated from her father and boldly asked a German guard to let her go to him. She could have been killed immediately, but the guard consented.

Upon arrival at Auschwitz, Gloria endured her first of many "selections". The elderly, sick, children, anyone deemed undesirable were immediately sent to the left. Gloria stood as tall as she could, trying to appear older than she was and was sent to the right. She endured unbelievable atrocities including meeting Dr. Josef Mengele, the infamous Nazi doctor who decided with the wave of a hand who would live and who would die. She was placed in SIX different concentration camps, each time moved via cattle car.

At the end of the war, Gloria was 14 years old and weighed 58 pounds. She spent months in a hospital in Sweden and it was there that she was reunited with her one remaining family member, her older brother. The passion with which Gloria spoke could not be denied. Her final words were regarding those that say the Holocaust did not occur. "Where is my family if that is the case?"

I know this is a not my normal type of post, but maybe I'm just writing this for me. I don't want to forget the things the Gloria spoke from her heart.

A Day with My Valentine

Several weeks ago we decided we would delay our Valentine celebration. Les was scheduled to preach Sunday morning and he had yesterday off for President's Day, so we thought a relaxing Monday would be just the ticket. Our original thoughts were to take Amtrak to Santa Barbara or Disney's California Adventure. As Phil the Groundhog predicted, we are having additional winter around here. We received over 2 1/2 inches of rain yesterday, so those outdoor adventures just weren't going to happen. I really don't like to be wet, miserable, and soggy, do you?

So what to do? How to spend a rainy day in Southern California?

Our first stop was IHOP for a late breakfast (almost 10:00). It is a rare day that we eat breakfast together, and even rarer that we eat breakfast at a restaurant. Cholesterol and fat counts were forgotten for a meal!

Driving in the pouring rain, we had a very fun exchange - "since there's nothing better to do, we might as well spend the day together." Of course it was said in jest, but then turned around, "there really is nothing better to do than spend the day together!"

We made our way to the Museum of Tolerance. Not exactly a "date" place, but we thought we would go there, then possibly go to Exposition Park to see some other museums. We never made it to Expo Park - there was just too much to see at the MOT. I'll write a complete post about it in the next day or so, but the highlight was listening to Holocaust Survivor, Gloria Ungar, speak for 45 minutes about her experiences during the Holocaust. Reading, listening, or seeing films about the Holocaust cannot compare to sitting 5 feet away from a woman who lost her entire family, save one brother, to the atrocities of Nazi Germany.

We spent about 4 hours at the MOT and were both emotionally spent. As Les put it, "the next time I think I'm having a bad day, I need to think about the Holocaust victims and survivors."

We finished the day at The Cheesecake Factory, and I can only imagine the number of calories we consumed! I had Louisiana Chicken Pasta and Les had Crusted Chicken Romano. We both ordered "Lunch Portions" and brought half of our meals home. Of course we had to save room for Key Lime Cheesecake! Our waitress was wonderful - Les asked how his chicken was prepared because it was so good - she went back to the chicken and came back and told us the entire recipe! I'll be trying that out at home in the near future!

It wasn't your typical romantic getaway, but we have a few of those planned in the next few months. But it's always a good day spending it with my best friend!

God Is No Stranger

After writing about the DeMerchants, I told my Peeps, Eliana and Chloee, that they could borrow the missionary books I have in my library. I pulled them out the other day and found that in addition to Full Throttle, I have 12 other books written by or about missionaries! Nona Freeman, Mollie Thompson, Bill Drost, and many others share stories of triumph and defeat, trials and victories, sickness and healing, and God's power being poured out all over the world!

You may be wondering, Kathy, do you feel a call to the mission field? I can honestly say, I do not. As of today, I feel that I am in the perfect will of God, working in our local church in Burbank, California, and supporting missionaries with my prayers and finances. I believe Los Angeles is a large mission field of its own! But that doesn't mean I don't love to read about what God has done! The stories inspire me to have great faith, to desire greater revival.

After sorting through the books, I stumbled upon a little book entitled "God is No Stranger."

The year was 1983. I had been out of high school for one year and was working full time in the church office. We received a flyer (which I still have) that said:

Western District Youth Corp
Puerto Rico and Haiti Explosion
July 28th - August 8th
W.D.Y.C. . . . . the Time of Your Life!

Some of my friends had gone on WDYC the previous year and I decided this was something I wanted to do. And the flyer was correct - it was the time of my life! What an adventure for a 19 year old who had never been out of California, much less been on an airplane! There is so much I could say about that trip - memories that will last a lifetime, times of singing, praying, and laughing with other Pentecostal young people, but most importantly it opened my eyes to a world in great need.

I may write about that trip more at another time, but my most precious memory is of going to a church Haiti. On our way there, our bus hit a power line in the town/village, knocking out all power. When we arrived at the church, there were only candles for lighting, and our group was escorted to the platform. The most amazing thing happened during that service - the service leader had a bell on the pulpit. The people would begin singing and praising God and would continue until the bell was rung. It was the only way to get these precious people to stop praising God! I'm not talking about a 20 second hand wave after singing a song 3 or 4 times. These people worshipped! In Spirit and in truth!

So, back to "God is No Stranger." If I remember correctly, this little book was given to each of us by the missionaries as a thank you for coming. It is a small book of prayers by Haitians who had been converted from Voodooism. The prayers are short and simple, but profound! So look for them on this blog in the future. The pictures I will use with them are my own, from my trip to Haiti. Here's a beautiful sample:

Lord,
We don't get mangoes from an avocado tree
And we don't get corn from the banana plant.
We produce what we are.
Help us to be what You need produced.

No, I'm not called to be a missionary to a foreign land, but I want to be what He needs produced!

What a Beautiful Day!

I woke up at 5:22 this morning, the alarm went off one minute later. I was up and out the door by 5:40. It was 38 degrees, but calm and clear. A perfect morning in my opinion! I was determined to run 14 miles, so off I went. The first 7 1/2 miles I headed west, with the sun slowly rising behind me. I then headed south for a mile, before I made the turn to run east toward home. It was the kind of morning that my water was colder after 5 miles than when I left the house. The only way to survive was the keep running! And run I did, as I had my best time this year - 14.3 miles in 2 hours, 6 minutes and 45 seconds (that's an average of 8:51/mile).

As I headed east towards home, running into the sun, my only thought was "what a beautiful day!" As often happens, words to an old song started running through my mind. "What a beautiful day for the Lord to come again!" I wondered, will it be a morning like this, with the sun shining? Will there be a blizzard in Minnesota or a hurricane in Florida? Will it be the middle of the day or the middle of the night?

You know it won't matter what the weather is at that moment. When He returns, it WILL be a beautiful day!! I plan to keep running the race until that moment. I want to join Paul in saying, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." (II Timothy 4:7-8)

I am looking forward to that day, how about you?

Happy Birthday, Claire!

Claire is our sweetheart niece, born on Valentines Day 1998! I can't believe she's already eleven. She really is a sweetheart, very loving and sensitive. She loves to sing and has been taking piano lessons for 2 or 3 years now. One of my favorite Claireisms was when she was in Kindergarten. She explained something to her dad and he was quite amazed. Her response, "I'm an expert at thinking!"

How did we get from here:



to here:

so quickly??

To My Valentine

You know, ladies aren't the only ones that like to get stuff at work! No, I didn't send Les flowers, I sent him a cookie bouquet! He sent this picture from his iPhone. I know what we're having for desert tonight.

Friday Foodie

Last night I made Chicken Penne Alfredo. This was one of those recipe cards you get in the mail, hoping you'll sign up and buy a bunch. I just kept the free sample, thank you!



The recipe used the term "Dutch oven". I wasn't sure what one was or if I had one, so of course I Googled it! Found this question: "If a recipe calls for a dutch oven, what can I substitute instead?" with this response: "Most people have a dutch oven, they just don't call it that. Its a large pot with a lid, with two handles on the side, You use it to boil water for spaghetti and stuff like that." So, easy enough!

6 oz. whole wheat penne pasta
2 cups peeled baby carrots
3 cups broccoli florets
6 oz. grilled chicken breast
4 oz cream cheese with garden vegetables
1/2 to 1 cup milk (I use 1%)

In a 4-quart Dutch oven (pan!) cook pasta and carrots according to pasta package directions
Add broccoli for the last 6 minutes of cooking time
Drain pasta and vegetables; return to pan
Stir chicken, cream cheese spread, and 1/2 cup milk into pasta mixture.
Cook and stir over low heat until cream cheese is melted.
Add remaining milk to make sauce desired consistency.

Makes 4 (2 cup) servings. 339 calories, 7 g fiber, 7 g fat, 6 WW points. The points on this could be reduced by one by using fat free cream cheese - our grocery store didn't have any with the vegetables!

Success! After last week's meal, I'm happy to report another good recipe. On a scale of 1-5, I would rate this a 3.5. It was quick and easy, the cream cheese added a good flavor. Next time, I'll probably add one more vegetable, possibly a red bell pepper to give it a little more zing. 1/2 cup of milk was plenty, but I will probably add a little more when I reheat it.

I also wanted to share a handy website that I use when I'm not sure of the nutritional value of any given food. It's especially helpful with produce, since apples and bananas don't have nutrition labels attached! Nutrition Data - know what you eat!

Should I Tell This?

With Valentine's Day quickly approaching, I'm trying to decide if I should share a funny story about Les or not. Okay, I will!

When Les was in college in Tennessee, he did not always have a steady girlfriend. He hadn't met me yet, so he was in limbo, ha! So one year he waits until the last minute to buy Valentine's cards... yes, cards. He goes to the college gift shop and there is only one card available. So he buys two of the same card and sends them off. One to someone in Tennessee and one to someone in Kentucky. They'll never know the difference, will they??

He really should have known better. The two girls in question were friends. I think I'll let one of them explain it in her own words...

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

P.S. To you Nashville readers, you probably recognized that voice and yes, I had both her and Les' permission for this post! This recording took place in Nashville, sometime in August 1987 just before Les moved to California.

His Presence

The "Verse of the Day" on my blog yesterday was 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing."

I am now in Exodus in my daily Bible reading. Chapter 33 tells of the Lord speaking face to face with Moses, verse 15-16 says:

"And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth."

Those two passages collided in my mind! I've heard many messages from 1 Corinthians 13, going and doing just for the sake of going and doing, without love in our lives. But we can't have real love without His presence! All of our busyness will profit us nothing without His presence. When we find grace in His sight, then we can go forward, knowing His presence is with us. We love the unlovable because of His presence. There are all kinds of love, and we're hearing a lot about it this week, but the love that makes a difference is the love that is accompanied with His presence.

What Love Looks Like

These are two of my favorite pictures of Les and me.

November 3, 1991, Yosemite, California - He proposed and I said yes!


This picture shows just how happy I was to be engaged to the man of my dreams. It was taken on the morning after our engagement - I was so giddy, I couldn't stop smiling and laughing. I love that Mom or Dad captured this shot! I'm so happy I married him and he still makes me laugh!

I Guess the Groundhog Was Right!

Since Phil saw his shadow last week, we've gotten a little winter weather. We've received almost 3 inches of rain and right now it is hailing!! Unbelievable!

Valentine's Day - Dos and Don'ts

I realize most of my readers are female, but just in case there are any men reading, I thought I'd help you out. Valentine's Day is THIS Saturday! Do Not Forget!! Do Something! Buy a Gift! Get a Card! Send Flowers!I personally LOVE getting flowers. I know, they are just going to die. I normally am very logical about this kind of stuff, but when it comes to flowers, I am mush.


Going out to eat works well, too. Anytime I don't have to do dishes, I'm happy! Unless you're going to the golden arches, reservations will be needed.



Candy MIGHT be acceptable. Know your woman...



Any kind of exercise equipment (unless requested) is NOT an appropriate gift - for any occasion.


Cleaning equipment or supplies are also not gifts, they indicate work. NOT exactly heart warming, Romeo!

Give me some help readers - we have a few days... Do you have any memorable stories to share? Any other helpful hints?

Friday Foodie on Saturday

Last night I made Thai Peanut Noodle Bowl, this recipe is from Fitness Magazine.


2 ounces whole-wheat pasta
1 Tbsp peanut butter
1 Tbsp lime juice
1 garlic clove, minced
1 piece (1 inch) ginger, peeled and grated
1/2 cup frozen shelled edamame
2 cups frozen stir-fry vegetables
1 Tbsp chopped peanuts

Cook pasta according to directions
In a skillet, saute peanut butter, lime juice, garlic and ginger for 1 minute.
Add edamame and vegetables, cook for 12 minutes until vegetables are tender
Pour over pasta
Top with peanuts

Serving size according to the recipe = 1, the picture above is the entire recipe in TWO bowls.
498 calories, 12 g fiber, 17 g fat, 9 WW points for the entire recipe.

Now for the bad news. It was horrible!! The "sauce" wasn't saucy, just dry and bland. I added water and extra lime juice as the vegetables were cooking, but it just wasn't enough. I added soy sauce after taking a couple of bites, still not good. We managed to eat about two-thirds, but it took some effort!


Rating 1-5? 0. Double thumbs down!! Truthfully I cannot recommend this dish. Les said, "it doesn't have any taste." It's only redeeming quality was it was quick and easy, but so is a PJB or ordering pizza or making an omelet. Hopefully I'll have something better next week!

Thankfully I planned on us splitting the new dish and we also had:


These little guys are only 1 point each - and they taste good. Dip 'em in

Friday Foodie

will appear tomorrow. I'm trying a new recipe tonight.

Bird Bath

We're getting a little bit of rain today. I glanced out to our backyard and saw these little guys enjoying themselves...





They were also playing in the "greenbelt" behind our house, but they were difficult to capture with my camera.


Some other "birds" in our backyard!

It's coming down a little harder now, the birds have flown off, but I love the sights and sounds of falling rain!

Scattering Feathers

The story below is from The Moral Compass by William J. Bennett. I used it in the Youth Sunday School class this week and felt it was worth sharing here as well.

Saint Philip Neri, a beloved priest of sixteenth-century Rome, was sought out by the rich and poor, the noble and common people alike, for his ability to look into hearts and minds. This story demonstrates his wisdom.

The Tongue and How to Use It

A young lady once went to the good man, Saint Philip Neri, to confess her sins. He knew one of her faults only too well. She was not a bad-hearted girl, but she often talked of her neighbors, and spoke idle tales about them. These tales were told again by others, and much harm was done, and no good.

Saint Philip said: ‘My daughter, you do wrong to speak ill of others, and I order you to perform penance. You must buy a fowl in the market. Then walk out of town, and as you go along the road pull the feathers from the bird and scatter them. Do not stop until you have plucked every feather. When you have done this, come back and tell me.’

She said to herself that this was a very singular punishment to suffer. But she made no objection. She bought the fowl, walked out, and plucked the feathers as she had been bidden. Then she went to Saint Philip and reported what she had done.

‘My daughter,’ said the Saint, ‘you have carried out the first part of the penance. Now there is a second part.’

‘Yes, Father?’

‘You must now go back the way you came and pick up all the feathers.’

‘But, Father, this cannot be done. By this time the wind has blown them all ways. I might pick up some, but I could not possibly gather up all.’

‘Quite true, my daughter. And is it not so with the unwise words that you let fall? Have you not often dropped idle tales from your lips, and have they not gone this way and that, carried from mouth to mouth until they are quite beyond you? Could you possibly follow them, and recall them if you wanted to do so?’

‘No, Father.’

‘Then, my daughter, when you are inclined to say unkind things about your neighbor, close your lips. Do not scatter these light and evil feathers by the wayside.'

Retold by F. J. Gould

Which Came First?

No, not the chicken or the egg! I know the answer to that - God created every winged fowl on the fifth day of creation. I'm pondering something a little more deep than that...

At our church we have traditionally started the year off with a week of prayer and fasting. Many churches do this. It's a great way to the start the year. This year Pastor White felt to go in a slightly different direction. On the first Sunday of January, he preached to us "Daily in the Temple." The church in the book of Acts was daily in the temple and the results were off the charts! Pastor White asked each of us to commit to four days "at the temple" - coming to the church to pray at least four times during the week. These times include Sunday and Wednesday. We have Saturday night prayer and we were asked to come one additional time. He has asked us each to fast one day a week as well. Our Wednesday nights during the month of January were dedicated entirely to a time of prayer.

During the last couple of weeks of December and the entire month of January, I have been made aware of so many needs to pray about. Needs of healing, needs of salvation, needs for jobs, on and on the requests have gone. Needs in our local church, in my family, friends both far and near. I have not run out of things to pray about!!

So which came first? The prayer or the needs? Have there been more needs because of our additional prayer??

Les gave me a great answer to this question. "Because of your additional prayer, you are more sensitive to the needs." The needs would have been there, with our current economy, people would have lost their jobs whether I was praying or not. People would have been sick, whether I was praying or not. I have been ashamed at times when I heard a victory report, only to realize I had "forgotten" or been "too busy" to pray for the need. God answered, whether I prayed or not.

So the point of this post? Praying for others' needs takes the focus of my prayers off me, but still draws me closer to Him. Seeing those prayers answered blesses me. We have had new souls in our altars, two were baptized in Jesus' name on Sunday night! Prayer works!

Can I neglect to pray, while there is one who needs the help my prayers can bring?
- Mom's Bible

Do You Have Enough?

A little more from The Genesis Record... In Genesis chapter 33, Jacob and Esau meet for the first time since Jacob fled to Laban's.

Verse 9:
And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.

Verse 11 (Jacob speaking):
Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.

The King James version uses the word "enough" in both places. However, the Hebrew words are different. Esau said, "I have much (rab)", while Jacob said, "I have everything (kol)." At this point, Esau may have had greater possessions, but Jacob knew that with the Lord, he had everything!

An old, old (ancient!) song that our choir in Fresno use to sing has been floating through my mind as I thought about "enough". I may not have all the words, but here's what I found on the Internet and they're pretty close to what I remember. (In my mind I hear Bro. Keith Layne singing the solo...)

Now there's always somebody talking 'bout me, really I don't mind
They always stop, and try to block my progress, most of the time!
But the mean things they say, they don't make me feel sad,
I can't lose a friend that I never had!
I've got the Lord! and that's enough, that's enough, that's enough!

He raised me! (that's enough!)
And he saved me! (that's enough!)
He bought me! (that's enough!)
He taught me! (that's enough!)
He's my keeper! (that's enough!)
He's my God! (that's enough!)
And I can feel Him walkin right by my side!
I've got the Lord (the Lord)
I've got the Lord (the Lord)
I've got the Lord (the Lord)
I've got the Lord (the Lord)
I've got the Lord! And that's enough, that's enough, that's enough!

So many times, when I didn't have a dime,
Couldn't call on nobody but the Lord!
You know He heard my plea, came to see about me,
He's my all in all!
Now when they pushed me down, He picked me up,
He stands by me when the going gets rough
I've got the Lord! and that's enough, that's enough, that's enough!

Movie stars and famous athletes live not far from us. They drive their $100,000+ cars, park them in 6 car garages of multi-million dollar homes, with views of the ocean, guest houses, entertainment rooms, and entire staffs. To the world, they have it all, but without God, they just have much.

So which do you have? Much or everything?

Here, Froggy, Froggy!

I've been reading the account in Exodus of the plagues in Egypt. There is an unusual exchange in chapter 8 between Moses and Pharaoh:

8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD.

9 And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only?

10 And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God.

Tomorrow? You're willing to wait until tomorrow, Pharaoh? I can just imagine the conversation between Pharaoh and his wife...

Wife: Pharaoh, you've got to do something about these frogs! They're everywhere, they're making me crazy!

Pharaoh: I've already talked to Moses and Aaron, they're taking care of it.

Wife: When? How much longer will I have to suffer in such a manner?

Pharaoh: Tomorrow.

Wife: Couldn't they have done it today? Why didn't you command them to do it immediately?

Pharaoh: Well.... ummm... they would have done it today, but I told them tomorrow.

Wife: What?? (I picture Pharaoh's wife picking up dead frogs and throwing them at him at this point!!)

I wrote about fishing this guy out of our pool last August.


There was no way I was going to leave him until "tomorrow". I got the net immediately and got him out! It was just one frog - but that was one frog too many for me!

There are people just like Pharaoh in our lives. They're plagued with sin, guilt and despair, but when they hear "cast your cares on Him for He careth for you," they say "tomorrow." I don't want to keep anything in my life that makes me miserable if I can help it. Goodbye, frogs!

Heroes of Faith

I just finished reading "Full Throttle" by Bro. Bennie DeMerchant, Missionary to Brazil, and my mother-in-law, Dolly McElhaney. I have always loved reading missionary books and this one was no exception!

Bro. DeMerchant felt the call of God from the time he was a child, and while still in his twenties, he and his wife and young daughter moved to the country of Brazil. They have been missionaries to that country for more than 43 years! Bro. DeMerchant pilots his own floatplane to reach villages that would otherwise take weeks to get to, thus the title of the book "Full Throttle."

The DeMerchants arrived in Manaus, Brazil on October 29, 1965. They knew no one in town and didn't speak the language. Today there are over 650 churches, 40,000 saints, and 35 Bible schools in the Amazon Basin!!!

I feel like the writer of Hebrews, as I try to describe the incredible work of all missionaries and their families. "And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me..." They deserve their own Hebrews chapter 11 - they are great heroes of faith!

If you don't have at least one missionary book in your library, you are missing out! Order "Full Throttle", "Bug and Nona on the Go", "Bill Drost the Pentecost", or any of the other missionary books available at the Pentecostal Publishing House. These books will strengthen your faith and renew your desire to support missionaries with your prayers and finances.