to my favorite person in the whole world...

David, thank you for washing dishes every single day,

for being a man who stands firm,

 

for being a man who is growing and moving forward and taking me with you,

 

for cherishing me,

for being my family.

 

I love you so much. And I really am serious, so far this is the best year of my life.

xoxoxo

the fierce urgency of now

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism.

Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline.

We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope.

(excerpts from the I Have a Dream speech, given by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 1963)

------
What dream do I have? May it be bigger than me, bigger than my life.

May we stand with faith, hope and discipline. May we stand for justice. Let  freedom ring!

baked potato soup

I originally got this recipe from Laurel Jenkins when I visited their newly-three family in Germany :) Now it's one of our winter favorites. I bake the potatoes when I'm hanging around the house doing chores and leave them on the counter to cool until it's time to make dinner.

8 slices bacon, cut up into little pieces

     Cook over medium heat in Dutch oven til rendered and crisping. Remove with a slotted spoon onto paper towels. Pour off about half of the fat from your pan. Add:

1 medium onion, chopped

     Cook in drippings until translucent. Add:

2/3 c flour

     Stir to prevent lumps. As they turn golden slowly pour in:

6 c hot chicken stock

     whisking until liquid thickens. Bring to a simmer. Return bacon to pot and add:

6 medium baked potatoes, partially peeled and diced

2 c whole milk or cream

1/4 c chopped parsley

2 t garlic

2 t basil

1 t Tabasco or a few chopped up little red chili pepper

1 t salt
1 1/2 t pepper
     Simmer 10 minutes. Don't boil! Add:

1 c grated cheddar cheese

1/4 c chopped green onions

Yum!

Serves 6.

thoughts

Could we be missionaries in a foreign country before we pay off all our student loans?

Death and mourning--How to do it well? Why is it always so uncomfortable? It feels stupid.

Grandma is NINETY-EIGHT!!

Becoming a praying wife.

When do I say 'no' to something that will drain me/us and when do I say 'yes'? Not accidentally saying no to the things that are actually my top priorities.

How do I help a kid remember the sound that a letter makes?

Why do I get so distracted?

How to be a friend.

Are my five loaves and two fishes enough? Ha ha! No--of course not!

How does ongoing forgiveness fit with covering the shame fit with telling the truth?

In the process of forgiveness, how important is it that the offender ask for forgiveness?

What is a church? What do we do on Sunday?

Hurt, people and pain in the church.

Finding new recipes. Getting out of this cooking/eating rut that we're in.

When to think about money and when to not think about money?

Keeping the house on the cleaner, more inviting end of the spectrum so that it is a welcome place for us and others.

I don't need to own something to enjoy it.

Celebrations.

Love. Hope. Victory.

He daily bears our burdens?!