Awwhhh . . . Brownies

We've had a lot of company over the past week or so. My dad and sister came for a short-but-sweet visit. Here is a fun little trio of pics of Juliette with her auntie:

And then Seth's best man and his family came for the weekend. Seth lived in a Christian dorm with them in college, so there was plenty of reminiscing about prior antics! Who knew you could hurt yourself repelling off the roof, or that water-balloon launchers break windows?

Their youngest son is the cutest, chubbiest little guy. Don't you think so?

At six-months old, he is a future line-backer for sure!

Now back to the topic at hand - company (You thought I was going to say brownies, didn't you!). Last night we had our usual crowd - some young people who are working here for the summer. Young people who could use some good food, friendly fellowship, and of course some time on the Wii!

I do have something important to say before we talk chocolate. But it's coming.

Seth and I love having people over, in part because we both grew up in very hospitable families, and also because we have personally been blessed by the hospitality of countless friends and family. We want to pay it forward, in whatever small way that we can.

Scripture makes it clear that hospitality is a must: "Practice hospitality." - Romans 12:13. And it also makes it clear that we are to do it with a good attitude: "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." - 1 Peter 4:9. I'm not saying it is always easy, but it is a command.

Of course, there are a lot of blessings for those that practice hospitality too. We were joking last night with our company, that the only reason we invite people over is so we don't feel guilty about making (and eating!) an entire desert. Maybe that is why hospitality is so important to God, He wants us to have a sweet life!

And with that in mind, here it is . . . the best-ever . . . quick . . . company-approved . . . brownie recipie. I found this on the internet somewhere, when we were "ovenless" for a short time. I wish I could find it again and give credit where credit is due, but its too easy/good for me not to go ahead and share it. Enjoy!

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7 -Minute Microwave Brownies

In a 9-inch glass (microwave safe!) pan melt 1/2 c. butter. Add 6 Tbsps cocoa and 3/4 cup sugar and stir until smooth. Add 2 eggs, 2 Tbsps milk, 1 tsp. vanilla, 2/3 cup flour, 1/2 teas. baking powder, and 1/4 teas. salt. Microwave for 5-6 minutes or until top is no longer wet. Cool brownies on a flat, heat-proof surface for 10-15 minutes. The trapped heat will cook the bottom of the brownies - but if you are like me, you won't be opposed to eating them straight out of the microwave for total ooey-gooey goodness!

Not-Me-Monday: Semi-Trucks, Punk Rockers, and Keys

It’s Not-Me-Monday again, and this week I most certainly did not find myself stuck in construction traffic with a screaming, starving baby. I mean any sensible mother would have known her baby was going to be hungry, and would have planned accordingly. And I certainly didn’t decide to just pull over to the shoulder of the road to nurse her – especially since I was surrounded by semi-trucks, with drivers that had front row tickets to the show. Not me!

And after the baby was happily fed, and returned to the car seat, I definitely didn’t continued to patiently wait for the sea of semi-trucks to start moving, without even questioning why the construction delay was taking so long. Nor did I pull out my knitting and try and squeeze in a few rows while we waited. Now that would be silly!

And after a significant amount of time passed, I most certainly didn’t try to act unruffled and serene, when I finally asked one of the stopped truck drivers what was taking so long. And I definitely did not try to seem unflappable when he explained to me that there wasn’t a construction delay AT ALL but rather all of the semi-trucks were waiting for a gate to open at the refinery, so they could dump their loads. I mean, why would there be construction in the middle of the high, arid plains anyhow?

And when I wrote the above paragraph. I most certainly didn’t initially spell “unflappable” as “unflabbable”. I mean, "unflabbable" is not only not a word, but if it were it would be a meaningless word I’d know nothing about – like the phrases “flat-abs” or “cellulite-free”. Nope, not me!

And I would never style my daughter’s hair to look like a punk-rocker chic. Nope, not me!

I definitely did not let my baby play with my keys while we were shopping. And I definitely wasn’t surprised to find that she had dropped them somewhere in the store, without me noticing. No, that would just be downright silly! And I didn’t frantically walk up and down the aisles looking for them, or ask the checker upfront if she’d seen any keys. And when I found them at the bottom of the basket, I definitely didn’t try to act nonchalant, and say "Here they are," in a calm, even voice, even though I was secretly shouting “Hallelujah!!!!!” inside. No, definitely not me!

Okay, I might have done those things this week. It’s probable. Highly probable.

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Check out more Not-Me-Mondays below:

Upside Down

Seth has been teaching a class on Revelation for our little church. Have I mentioned how proud I am of him? Not many men would be willing to tackle such a difficult and controversial subject - nor could they do it with such insight, enthusiasm, and fairness. He is doing a great job!

Last night we were studying chapter nine, and got side-tracked (which isn't unusual for our group). We started talking about the deceptiveness of sin. We talked about how easy it is to think something is beautiful, powerful, lovely, and good - when in fact it is dangerous, distracting, and harmful. It is easy to get upside-down, thinking that what is evil is good and what is good is evil. At times it almost seems too easy, doesn't it?

Hebrews 5 offers us hope, however, saying that putting the Word into practice can help us discern between good and evil. It's God's special Word that can help discern right from wrong, evil from good, truth from life-killing lies. May God give us all the grace and balance that we need to stay upright in this very off-kilter world.

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On a lighter note:

Isn't this a sweet picture - my flirty, little cuddly girl who just started giving kisses. Wow, I love her! (By the way, whose ugly feet are those? I'll give you one guess.)

Time Flies - No Matter What You're Doing

My sweet cousin-in-law put a bunch of her wedding photos online the other day, including this precious one of Jewel-Bug back in January (No, that isn't me holding her - she was social even back then!!):

She looks so itty-bitty in that picture. She has really grown in the six months since then (How can it already be six months ago?!?)

Time flies - period. I better enjoy this sweet pea, because before I know it she'll be off to college, or getting married herself!

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"Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath. . . My hope is in you." - Psalms 39:4-7

"Them Are Fightin' Words"

Many years ago I was working as a "roving" bank teller, and I was assigned to fill in for a lady who had the following verse posted at her work station, "The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still" - Exodus 14:14. I never met the lady, and I have no idea why she had that particular verse pasted up, but I can't tell you how many times those words have come to my mind - usually when I am right in the middle of, or at least seriously contemplating, a knock-down, drag-out, total word-thrashing fight.

Today, I came across a similar passage in Chronicles 20: "This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. . . . You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you . . . Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.' " (vs. 15-17)

There is nothing wimpy here. Those people were called to take a position and stand firm - they couldn't just run away from the battle itself, and yet they were told to let the Lord do the fighting. Finally, an option beyond fight or flight. And yet it goes completely against my natural impulses.

In my own life, I want to have confidence in the truth that I serve a God who is a "fighting God" - a God who is willing to go into battle for me. I can't just hide when times get tough, I have to face the realities of difficult situations, but I also don't have to be afraid or discouraged, because the "Lord will be with [me]". So, it's time to face life's battles, sit on my hands, close my ever-blabbing mouth, and watch the deliverance of the Lord at work. Now aren't those nice fighting words?

Indian Marinade

Dad and my sister Sierra came to visit yesterday. It was so fun to have them, even if they could only stay for one night. One thing about living a ways away from family - you sure appreciate every opportunity that you get to spend with them! Of course, Jewel had a fabulous time with her 'Gramps' and 'Auntie'.

Dad was kind enough to grill for us - not only us, but the interns from Seth's work too. So we had a delicious meal of grilled chicken, couscous, and broccoli. Here is the yummy marinade we put on the chicken:

Indian-Style Chicken Marinade

1/2 cup plum or peach preserves

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1/2 teas. ground red pepper

1/4 teas. cumin

Curry to taste (I used about a teaspoon - I think!)

2 canned whole tomatoes

3 garlic cloves

2 teas. fresh ginger

Combine in a blender and puree until smooth. Reserve 1/2 cup for basting. Marinate 4 chicken breasts in the remaining amount of sauce for 1 1/2 hours or more. Grill and serve. Caution: It's Scrumptious!

Not Me Mondays

So for awhile now I have been telling all sorts of people about this blog that another friend (Thank you Jenny!) turned me on to:

http://www.mycharmingkids.net/

If you haven’t checked it out, you should. The author is an amazing photographer/artist, with a zany sense of humor, and a very realistic take on motherhood and life in general.

She also started this wonderfully fun phenomenon called “Not Me Mondays” – an opportunity to be “brutally honest” – or real with a capital “R”! So after you read my “Not Me Monday” post, be sure to check out her blog. You won’t be sorry you did.

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NOT ME MONDAY

This week I never would have desperately tried to avoid grocery shopping by forcing my husband to eat tuna sandwiches multiple days in row. Nor would I try to sneak whole-wheat noodles into his lasagna without warning him. I mean who would deliberately deceive their husband like that – not me!

Nor was I surprised to find that after hastily trying to dry my poorly rinsed flip-flops, the entire inside of my drier was lined with gummy mud. I mean, who would expect the drier to its job and the job of the washer? Not me!

During our first-ever golfing date, I most certainly did not drive my normally patient husband to a point of pure aggravation. Not me! And I didn’t even smirk, when he missed a shot, tossed his club, and got it stuck 25-30 feet in the air, among the thick branches of the pine trees that lined the course. I mean laughing at that ironic misfortune would be totally cruel. Who would do such a thing – not me!

And I definitely didn’t go nearly a whole day eating nothing but oatmeal cookies, justifying my actions by telling myself that they might go bad if I didn’t eat them up quickly. Nope – I’d never! And then when I shared a cookie with a friend, I wasn’t relieved that I would now be able to say that I hadn’t eaten all the cookies myself. Now, that would just be silly.

And of course, who would write up a “Not Me Monday” post on Sunday, just because they had company coming, and they knew that the next day was going to be crazy busy? That would be ridiculous. Certainly not me!

Okay, I did all of those things, but being brutally honest is pretty refreshing. I’m definitely going to have to do this more often. Let’s face it, no one is perfect, right? Well, certainly not me! Now check out MckMama's website below for more "Not Me Monday" fun.

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