Holiday Goodies

Photo By: Kakisky


Upon pondering Christmas time
I like to think of cheese and wine
but this year I could not yield my mind
from thinking of the sugary food we wield.
We chew and gorge on dainty delights
as our waistbands grow and pants get tight.

There is one Holiday icon who fits the bill
eating cookies til' he gets his fill.
We endear our children to his jolly girth,
his 'belly full of jelly', his laugh 'full of mirth'
See how we use such 'cute' phrases when describing
a fat man on a road to health malaise's.

Why don't we say, "Here comes the man with junk in his trunk."
or ask rhetorical questions about the chimney size and his ba-dunk-a-dunk?
Maybe it's a ploy of the politically correct,
full of hypocrisy and word dialect.

Ahh!

It doesn't amount to a hill of beans in the long run.
Just enjoy all the goodies until the Holiday is done,
and revel in the spirit of Christmas fun!

Now go grab a cookie!

Doggerel provided by: Chandra Brown

Merry Christmas!

The Christmas Coyote

Let me tell you about young Emily Robbs, Emily Robbs was 10 years old  and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robbs who owned a ranch in Colorado. One thing that the Robbs were not pleased to see, was a coyote. That is exactly what this story is about. One day, young Emily saw a beautiful fright; out side her window was a gleaming white coyote clothed in a scarf and booties. Poor little Emily thought she was loosing her mind. She pinched her thigh, she slapped her cheeks and put ice down her shirt to see if she was dreaming and finally she came to realize the coyote was really there starring at her right in the eyes. She backed away in fear, the coyote cocked its head then prowled away. Of course young Emily never told her parents about such things or they would think she was messing with coyotes. Then something caught her eye, she had noticed that her advent calender was at the 24th. "It's getting late," she said, "I better get to sleep, Santa comes tonight."
 
BLEEP! BLEEP! BLEEP!!! she awoke to her alarm clock in a flash and gasped, "Santa came!!!!!!"  She found a letter in her stocking along with all the toys it read:

Dear sweet Emily, I know you want to be a Veterinarian when you grow up so I am assigning you to help one of the most special animals in all the land, the Christmas coyote, she will lead you to her problem.
Thank You!
From, Santa Claus

Christmas Coyote With Her Pup
Photo By: Alex Brown

Straight then she knew that the coyote she saw that day was the special Christmas coyote. Emily dashed to the window and there it was. Legend has it that every year the Christmas coyote would go around and decorate the peoples yards and  it would choose one child to give a special gift to. Immediately, she grabbed her vet kit and trudged outside in wonderment even though she hadn't had her breakfast yet. She followed the coyote into the deep forest covered in snow.

Nervously she spoke, "I'm sorry but Mrs.coyote its been an hour already and I'm awfully hungry."
She turned and shot her a look, that said, 'We're almost there, so please don't argue.' Finally, Emily arrived at a bloody trap and inside it was an adorable, pudgy coyote pup. "Awe, it's so cute," Emily said, "Is he yours?" The coyote nodded with a painful yes, then whapped Emily on her thigh with its tail. Emily huffily asked,"Ow, what was that for?" The coyote looked at Emily then at the injured pup. "Right," she exclaimed, then she pryed open the trap and gently pulled the pup out and wrapped its wounded leg and gave it to the Christmas coyote. She picked it up as fast as lightning and trotted away, as Emily shouted, "Don't I get a thank you?" to the coyote who was about 30 meters away. It just went on plodding off into the woods. Emily turned to head back home with a happy heart that she was able to help.

After getting away from worried parents she slipped into bed and went to sleep. The next morning Emily awoke to a scratch at her door, she opened it and found a little coyote plush identical to the pup she had saved. It was from the Christmas coyote and this year Emily was that special someone.

Emily Finds the Christmas Coyotes Gift

THE END

This Christmas tale was written by: Alex Brown

Hook, Line and Sinker

Photo by: Chandra Brown
 

I took this picture over the Summer while fishing on Town Lake with my daughter. It struck me as funny but also a little sad. I imagined the scene vividly; happy angler on the shore balancing his rod gently tilting it backwards getting ready to cast, then suddenly the pole tugs on his arm as the line gets stuck in the branch just out of eyesight above his head. Realizing his dilemma the smile on his face turns to concern. His arm starts to tire wrestling with the tangled mess. Finally, he succumbs to defeat, flips his hat on the ground in disgust and pulls his knife from his pocket to cut the line. He didn't even get his bait in the water. Not exactly a relaxing day fishing.

I sat on this picture and post for months. I took the photo knowing there was a post behind it but I wasn't ready to write it until last night when I was pillow talking with my daughter. We were discussing Luke 5:1-11. We read the account from her new Pre-teen Bible she specifically asked for so she could know Jesus better.

Jesus uses Simon's boat to teach a lesson from the shore, after He was done speaking he tells Simon to go out into the deep and cast his net. Simon is skeptical because they fished all night and caught nothing but is obedient. The boat overflows and he calls James and John over to help with the bountiful catch because the nets were splitting and the boat was sinking. Simon repents of his unbelief and Jesus uses this event to invite Simon to become His disciple. Simon, James and John were smart, it says, "they left everything and followed."

After we read the account, I asked Alex what did Jesus mean when He said, "..from now on you will fish for people."

Her answer was spot on, she said, "I can explain it in kid terms, Jesus is going to teach them the truth so they can go out and tell others."

I asked her, "What 'truth' would Jesus teach them?"

And this is where I get excited about her answer...she said, "Jesus is going to teach them about Himself."

A parent has never been so proud. I couldn't stop kissing her forehead. That is IT! Jesus wants us all to know the truth about who HE is, why HE came and then tell others. Sadly, this simple truth is lost in this day and age because people don't know who He is. They go fishing in their own way and end up a tangled mess, they are so encumbered with the world they can't even get the bait in the water. They are caught up in the world just like the branch catches the line in the picture.

I like to contemplate what kind of fisher woman I am? Am I caught hook, line and sinker into the world's philosophies or swallowed up in the truth of Jesus and able to share the bounty with others?

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Photo By: Chandra Brown
Ingredients for Dry Laundry Detergent
 

Who knew laundry detergent could be so cheap?

Borax                    64 oz. (approximately 9 cups)     $2.99
Ivory Soap            10 count   (3.1 oz.)                       $4.25
Washing Soda      55 oz. (approximately 7 Cups)     $7.35

*Baking Soda       64 oz. (approximately 9 Cups)     $4.67

Ingredients: Makes approximately 36 loads (1/4 cup per load)
3 cups Borax
3 cups finely grated soap  (1 bar) (Ivory, or other natural soap)
3 cups washing soda

Mix together, Voila!

I spent about $3.03 for 36 load homemade, allergy-free detergent. Compare that to All Free and Clear 36 load detergent for $7.25.

When I first started the ingredients seemed out of reach at local chain stores but with some gumption I was able to find everything needed.  Washing soda seems to be the hardest ingredient to find locally but there's a trade secret with a simple chemistry twist that makes this task simple as pie.

*How to Make Washing Soda:
Pour 3 cups Baking Soda into a large glass dish. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Bake, stirring frequently until powder turns to crystal form. Three cups takes approximately 1 hour baking time. Store in a tightly sealed jar. Label it. Baking the soda changes the chemical composition; for explanation of how this change happens, click here.

Tips:
Many users of homemade detergent say they achieve best results with warm water.

You MUST finely grate the soap. Larger flakes tend to clump in the washer. Fine grating assures dissolution.

It is also recommended to start your washer, let it fill with some water then add detergent and give
the water a swirl before adding clothes, this helps the soap flakes dissolve better. Or for those with more modern machines that add the detergent in the cycle; do not overload the bin with clothes for best results.

If you have hard water, add more washing soda. This will help soften the water. (1/2- 1 cup extra washing soda, you may have to adjust amount higher or lower)

If you want to have a scent, you can add a few drops essential oils of your choice to the soap flakes before mixing with powders.

Make sure you click on the highlighted words throughout the post. They give you other uses for these ingredients as well as what the ingredients are made of. One of the uses I was drawn to and plan to try is the dishwashing detergent. The recipe is simple 50/50 of borax and baking soda. Can you imagine the savings on this product?

Let me know how you end up using Borax and Baking Soda. I think we'll be surprised at the simple brilliance of these natural products.

Happy wash day! I have never been so excited to do a load of wash.

If you want some inspiration and motivation for making household changes. Watch Chemerical, a documentary about your average families journey to rid toxic products from their house.

Learn What This Means

Matthew 9:12,13 has played a big role in my tutelage under the Holy Spirit these past months. This is the passage of scripture where Jesus calls Levi, the tax collector to follow Him and Levi decides to do so. Jesus proceeds to eat and hang out with more publicans and sinners and the religious icons of the day (Pharisees) question Jesus' motives. Jesus response always hits at the heart of the matter as He states His answer which cannot be refuted.

Before I go further I'll quote the text, "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Verse 13 is rich with lessons. I was able to experience these lessons through specific circumstances. The Lord decided to take me on a field trip of sorts. I was somewhat flung into a world I did not particularly want to take part in. I knew from the first it was a test. I wanted to pass it so I knew I had better pay attention. I passed and failed at the same time, yet, the failure was meant to ram home a very important point; so maybe it wasn't a total failure because I did learn what I was supposed to.

To learn in this passage is is the word 'manthano' and means to desire to learn through experience. The word for mercy is 'eleos' and concerns special and immediate regard to the misery which is the consequence of sins. God's mercy is extended to alleviate those consequences.

Oil and Water
By: Brainsik

This worldly experience fit the teaching criteria perfectly. Let me explain. As a follower of Christ, I know I am consecrated, set apart (Hebrews 3) for holiness. I am to be in the world but not of the world (Romans 12:2) I found myself in a struggle. How do I act, what do I say when I have made every effort in my life to reject what these worldly people were doing. Why am I here when I do not have anything in common with them. There were even times of disgust and thinking, "why am I waisting my time here?" I was a little confounded at first, this oil and water thing was uncomfortable. Religion tells us to stay away and don't intermingle with this crowd, yet Jesus did the opposite and was called a glutton and wine bibber for it. Then I remembered, Jesus is a stumbling block (I Corinthians 1:23) He came into this world and caused people to make a decision. He cast His pearls before swine (*Matthew 7:6; Mark 2:17). And this was MERCY!

Jesus lived this day in and day out, whether he was in the synagogue or eating with a publican. He came to the worldly to alleviate the consequences of our sin. He was pure, holy; the answer in living flesh come down to live out and tell us the good news so we could be free to KNOW Him and redeem us from our due wages; death. (Romans 3)

My experience was not meant to focus on the worlds ways contrasted to holiness, but to focus on speaking the truth of who Jesus is and what He did for a hurting, lost people. My failure through this experience was not opening my mouth a bit wider, a bit louder and proclaiming the Gospel clearly at every opportunity. I was able to speak some truth as I grappled with the circumstance, show truth through actions but not on the scale that was needed. Sometimes when you're learning something you bumble with it before you really get the fullness of it. The failure was a cleansing. It helped me rid more religious thought and take on Christ likeness.

The time for this circumstance came to an end through the Holy Spirit's direction. Honestly, I was relieved but I was also melancholic. Not that I missed their worldly ways but that they were so far in them and didn't seem to understand their need to abandon them. I saw their misery in sin clearly and was saddened. Contrasting this with Levi's actions is powerful. He heard Jesus, obeyed and was changed.

I'll conclude with this last simple statement, Jesus never missed an opportunity. I pray these lessons have made their impact so I won't miss the next one as I traverse through the world and walk the narrow road.

I Peter 2: 7-12

*Thank you Ken Brown for the exegesis of Matthew 7:6...God was using you!

Why I Love Reading The Bible

The school year is back in session and my daughter is now in fourth grade. Back to school night is behind us and we are off to a good start. I've noticed writing will be more of a focus. I decided to make myself do my own writing exercise; hence, my 'fourth grade' title.

I am not an intentional eaves dropper but when the word 'God' or 'Bible' is used in others' conversations I just can't help but let my ears perk up. Sometimes I do get to be that solitary fly on the wall buzzing in and out of people's conversations. I hear off-hand comments which describe various opinions and it gets my brain brainstorming in all different directions. One I recently heard was, "The Bible is so boring." Another I see posted alot on chat sites is, "It's so contradictory."  I sigh when I hear that and want to butt in to the conversation but I have some social grace and leave the rude behavior as an after thought and buzz off to do the next thing on my list.

This particular theme could have chapters so I'll try to make it succinct. First, I would like to say (get ready to pull out your dictionary) The Bible is sui generis, the author is proof of that. He uses real life events; with real people to declare who He is. The Bible is a biography, auto-biography, historical non-fiction, mystery, romance with multiple themes that support a main plot. Every good author knows how to draw in their audience and make them relate to the characters demise or triumph. If you allow the author to lead you, He uses His word to graft your own story into His masterpiece. It truly is a pluperfect work of art.

Secondly, I find no contradiction in God's Word. Humans get hung up on the polygamy of the Old Testament, Abraham willing to do in Isaac, God telling Elijah to kill the prophets of Baal. When these so called 'contradictions' arise we need to stop and look around us. What is the reality we are all living in (from ancient time to modern)? I'll answer that for you; we live in a fallen, sinful world. The beauty of the Bible is it shows How God chooses to deal with us in this fallen state. He shows His utter perfection, we fail to heed to it and in our own power we can not attain his demands of it yet He still exhibits patience, mercy and justice. I challenge you to ask the author about these "twists" for the full detail. Then apply the lessons to your own life.

Lastly, each and every account given of the lives and events of the Bible point to the One hero who sacrifices dearly for Love. The Bible is an epic love story that extends through all space and time. Jesus is the climax, but it doesn't end there; the fulfillment of all that He promised, has accomplished and will do is ours to share in with Him forever.

I was succinct, there's a lot in these paragraphs, for those that understand I don't have to remind them there is adventure in following Christ and being submitted to His will. I think they'd agree, reading of others' experiences before us only leaves The Iliad and the Odyssey in the dust.

What Bible account has impacted the way you walk with Christ?

Fox Den Design By Alex Brown

 A few weeks ago, I was rummaging through the 'what is this and why is this here' stockpiles in my daughter's room. Finding underwear in toy baskets and long forgotten shirts shoved behind the toy barn in the closet made me shriek with horror and plan a trip to Ikea. I squeezed all I could from the dollar bin organization system over nine years and it was time to invest in a real dresser.

Sometimes a purchase for one thing will be an avenue for changing other things. We bought a cheap pinewood dresser that we could paint. Alex mentioned she was sick of the pink walls in her room and was ready for change. "Mom", she replied, "I'm not a little girl anymore, the pink has got to go." I had to admit I liked hearing her bold assertion of opinion. This was a milestone moment.  I said, "You're ready for a change, how about you design your room? With a little help from Mom and Dad we can make it the way you envision it." Her baby brown eyes perked up with excitement, "YES, that will be so fun!"

This project was perfect for learning- doing things well takes time. When I work on a creative idea, I can become impatient and want to push it through so I can see the final result, this usually ends in mistakes or downright disaster. I have had to learn to put the brakes on and sit on it for awhile or do due diligence in researching the proper execution so the final product will be worth all the effort involved.

Alex working on her Fox Den Design Project; The Fox Box
photo by: Chandra Brown

Alex was chomping at the bit to get going on her vision of the perfect room; The Fox Den, as she calls it. She wanted all dark brown walls with green rugs to represent grass. She wanted a mural of a forest scene and a fox painted on the walls. She knew what she wanted. She picked out countless color swatches and even researched murals on the internet.

I hadn't even put one word of advice on the docket and she was tearing it up on her own. I had a little moment of motherly pride watching her talk about pulling colors through a room, knowing that earth tones don't mix with pastel palettes.(I did hint at not making all the walls dark brown and guided her to the idea of an accent wall of dark brown.)

I was impressed at her resourcefulness. She found a $4 clearance paint at TreeHouse, that matched her color palette perfectly. She chose that for the dresser. She found the grass rug at Ikea for $20 and the two different wall paints at Lowes were $45.

Nathan putting together the dresser
photo by: Chandra Brown

We got to work on the room re-do. Alex painted a wood box we found on the sidewalk put out for large item pick-up. Mom painted the dresser and Dad got involved and helped put the dresser together. The next day Alex and I painted her room, she is a pretty good wall roller. As we painted over the pink, the walls had a green hue. UH OH, we thought we picked a medium tan, what was going on? We patiently kept painting. I told her sometimes a color will not be true until it dries. She looked a little worried, I secretly was too. We put the brushes up and called it a night, shut the door and turned on the fan to help air out the room, tomorrow would tell if the color was a bomb.

The next day we opened the door to tan walls. Phew! We made it over a design hurdle. We began putting the room together. We knew the existing bedspread would not work anymore and I remembered I had stored an heirloom quilt in a trunk. It was given to us by Nana Brown. It worked perfectly in her room. We just had to buy a new bed skirt, which we found for a steal at Target for $15. The room needed a little something else, a little detail was missing. A pop of color was needed to bring the room together, so we saw the perfect find at Target, the red pillow made the finishing touch for $25.

Alex's Fox Den Design
photo by: Chandra Brown

Alex and I looked back over the receipts for the room remodel, we spent $190. We high-fived at how well it all worked out. It took over 2 weeks from idea to fruition, we still have a bit more to do,we are still working on the mural, which will take more planning and time but thankfully we have an artist in the family that can help when the time allows.

This project was worth more than the $190 we invested in it. I will always remember the time I spent with my daughter, the view into her thinking and seeing her idea take shape because she planned and worked towards her goal. Seeing her enjoy her space and want to be in it speaks to the success of the project.

Chocolate Fox Box, The Green Dresser, Fox Figurines, Alex and I painted the Fox picture too!
photo by: Chandra Brown

Looking forward to the next one...

Burger And Fries with A Side of Fellowship

My husband, daughter and I grabbed a P-Terry's treat for lunch the other day. We ravenously ripped into our $2.45 burgers. When our stomach growlings' were satisfied we found a little time for some fun Bible discussion. Nathan mentioned how he was reading the book of Daniel and how the Old Testament can be a trippy read. He said, " It amazes me that men like Daniel stood against the societal, cultural and even legal laws of the land yet still rose to high positions within the community."  It is pretty interesting to see how God elevates a person through the world's system to be His enforcer, or example or a stop-gap.

Photo By: pointnshoot

Being a  hobby reader; an amateur literature buff, this topic was right up my alley. Any good story or epic novel has a hero who is characterized as being the underdog, the one who knows something the others don't yet prevails despite warnings of loss and may be riddled with weaknesses that should end his journey but become his saving grace.

This is why I love reading the real life accounts of the Bible. God used men, who knew and understood the important detail of a submissive, relationship with God, and were plagued with weakness; and only because of their dependence on God did they become a hero in God's service bringing all the glory to Him. How can anyone not get excited about that.

Take, for instance, the account of Gideon, Judges: 6,7. Even before Gideon is a hero, the Angel of the Lord calls him a Mighty Warrior. (6:12) Gideon's underdog quality shows up when he says, "How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."  Then Gideon does something bold even though it was in the dark, (a direct command from God) and destroys one of the World's icons of "untruth", the idol of Baal. This action really gets the world's attention and stirs up a hornet's nest. Gideon's weakness makes an entrance as he squirms and doubts and struggles with the task bestowed upon him, he asks for signs from God even to the point of begging God not to be angry with him for asking for the signs. God is gracious and grants Gideon his requests, a bit of a confidence builder,  he needs it because the next day God cuts his man power down to three hundred in a curiously odd fashion too, keeping those that were crazy enough for the task. God keeps the climax titillating as he encourages Gideon to sneak into the enemies camp at night and eavesdrop on a conversation. Gideon is grateful for the revealed secrets of the enemies and at the next watch, Gideon smashed jars and blew trumpets causing the enemy to panic, scatter and turn their swords on each other. The art of confusion took care of the Midianites and the victory was attributed to God.

How could any of this happen without talking to and knowing God? As you read other heroic accounts in the Bible, the theme appears, men having relationship with God and the realities born out from that!

The really neat thing is this still happens today! Although the heroes are rare, it is amazing to see God's unchanging ways in the people that follow Him. I am lucky enough to know a few heroes in the making. He's the author and finisher of our faith, and I hope my role will bring honor to Him. (Hebrews 12:2)

Before I end this little ditty, I want to always point to the Ultimate Hero, Jesus. He came into the world in underdog status, He was not weak but weakness (sin) was put upon Him. He was the ultimate example of how to walk and talk and live out God's will. He willingly went to the cross and died for you and me. And this is where is gets EPIC, He conquered sin and death and rose from the dead so you and I can have the means to enter into relationship with God, and that is not a fairytale but reality so glorious one's soul can only soar with the understanding of it!

Making A Meal

A while back I posted a blurb about relishing the idea that Jesus cooked breakfast for his disciples. I just loved that a simple pleasure was shared between God's Son and the disciples.

Recently, I made a meal for my family and ended up sharing it with two others unexpectedly. I was more than happy to share it, in fact, I was a little nervous to share it because it was a new recipe. Poor guinea pigs!

Funny how I sit here with tears rolling down my cheeks thinking about this shared meal, maybe I am nearing my time of the month, but tears over a meal goes deeper for me in this circumstance. I have an inkling it is God teaching me more about who He is, and I just can't help but cry at the softening process of my heart. (Glad I wasn't crying about burning the food, HA!)

The meal wasn't amazing, and I didn't even sit down to eat with those I shared. So why am I a  blubbering mess over this insignificant meal? Because I was able to understand a little more of what God wanted me to do for that day. The article, Perfecting Holiness by Ken Brown helped confirm the reason for this particular lesson with the Lord.

This simple meal wasn't world saving, it wasn't even something others will necessarily take notice of. It was a task meant to help me take on more Christlikeness, more opportunity for obedience which leads to the glorification of God.

This meal ended up being a lesson in compassion and kindness; His compassion and kindness. I may not know what another is going through but God does. I don't and still don't know what my two guests have gone through or are currently going through and maybe everything is just fine BUT that is all part of the lesson.  I don't need to know the why's, the reasons, the details, I just need to be obedient to what He tells me to do.

Sharing this simple meal helped me glimpse into the compassionate nature of God towards these two fellows. He loves them very much.

There may be a lot to this story that can't be understood by those that read it, but I felt compelled to write it down anyway.

This time, I am relishing the meal not for it's tasty contents but for the amazing glimpse into God's Nature and His overwhelming Compassion for people.

Just Fishin'



Lake Bastrop North Shore

Trace Adkins

Just Fishin'

Passion Flower

Ecclesiastes 3
Photo By Chandra Brown

Sometimes a rare, exotic beauty hidden from view pops out at you when you least expect it. This texturally complex specimen is growing in a neighbors front yard here in Texas. When I think of a passion flower, I think of far off, ethereal lands, not Texas.

I was admiring the delicate features when my neighbor plucked the flower off the vine and handed it to me. She said, "The buds only bloom for a day, so enjoy it while you can."

I never thought a fleeting blossom could teach me something about relationships but this small, hidden wonder along with my neighbors advice helped me come to a realization. When life becomes monotonous, boring or rigid and an opportunity to revitalize arises, even if it isn't one you think is your cup of tea, snatch up the opportunity! Killing the passion because you're not used to the change of scenery only leads to a wilted existence. You might be missing out on something beautiful!

Remembering on Memorial Day

I have been enjoying this Memorial Weekend Holiday in the great outdoors with my daughter hiking trails, fishing, swimming, crafting and watching Leave It to Beaver re-runs.  I had a little time to organize my filing system and came across a picture of my dear Grandpa Jack. He's sitting on a trike in his  Army uniform looking like he's ready for some adventure.

The picture got me thinking about the reason why we celebrate Memorial Day. It is so easy to plan outings and barbeque's and focus on fun without even giving second thought to what the Holiday represents, this can especially be easy to forget for the civilian population. Memorial Day is about those that died while in service to their nation; quite sobering when you begin to think about what that really means. Thankfully, my Grandfather didn't die in his service during World War II and I have wonderful memories of him that I enjoy sharing with other family members.

So many things flood my mind as I write about remembering the service men that gave the ultimate sacrifice. It makes the words, 'thank you' seem so cheap. I think the best way we can celebrate this historic National Holiday is to talk and listen. What an honor to be able to listen to the stories of those that gave the ultimate price. Somehow the story is what keeps the sacrifice real. Maybe this is one reason why I love World War II history (besides letting a little of my Dad's passion rub off on me). I know we don't necessarily have the opportunity to discuss intimate details of life and death one on one with families that have experienced the loss of their son or daughter, so I suggest the next closest thing; pick up a Historical Biography of one of your favorite era's ( recent and ancient history are fraught with examples) and read the amazing true stories of real people fighting for freedom.

If you don't know where to begin, I have some suggestions for you...
1. Unbroken, by Laura Hillibrand
    World War II Airforce.

2. Fly Boys: A True Story of Courage, by James Bradley
     Covers the Pacific Theatre in World War II.

3. Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and The Lost Heroes of Seal Team 10, by Marcus Lutrell
    Afghanistan Theatre

Since the picture of my Grandpa in uniform inspired this post, I'd like to remember him by keeping the 'story' flame alive. I'm going to share a memory of my late Grandpa Jack, although not related to his service this story does give a picture of a man full of vibrant independence; or maybe better labeled, a rebellious streak.

I was eight years old and was fond of riding in my grandparents car when our large extended family caravaned from one place to another. This particular ride was on a Sunday. We were let out of church services and were heading down Wadsworth Boulevard in Grandpa Jack's sparkly, emerald green Buick with matching green fabric interior.

I was nestled in between Grandma El's yellow, damask back pillow and some Bibles on the seat meant for me to hold so they wouldn't fly all over the backseat. In these days, wearing a seat belt was pretty much optional, although buckle up billboards were cropping up everywhere. We lived by the seat of our pants in those days and none of us payed attention to the life saving warning.

Now Grandpa Jack was also known as Lead Foot Jack by friends and family. Speed limit signs were only suggestions, and even a red light or two fell under that category. We all agreed after careful consensus that he must have Angel's specifically posted on his bumpers because with his carefree, "what is this rear view mirror for" driving style and no incidents, that was the only logical conclusion one could come to.

We were probably clipping a good 55 down a 40 mile per hour lane when the sirens of a police car blared in our ears. Jack kept going through the intersection of Alameda and Wadsworth without slowing. I said, "Grandpa, don't you hear the police siren? I think you better pull over."

He retorted, " AA!" with a wave of his hand. Only when El piped in with a June Cleaver calm demeanor did Jack slow down and pull over.

The protocol commenced and the police officer in professional fashion asked, " Did you know how fast you were going, and may I see your license and registration?" My grandpa handed the paperwork over and watched silently as the officer went back to his car to log his information down.

The officer closed his car door and that's when my Grandpa turned his car on and took off like a bat out of hell, in disbelief I scolded," Grandpa, he has your license, you can't do that, it's breaking the law."

He retorted with his signature, "AA", and hand swipe.

I think Grandpa may have run a red light to make it to his hideout, but I'll never know because I had my head hidden under Grandma's back pillow the rest of the way home.

If you have any stories to share about your family whether they served or not, I'd love to 'hear' them.



 

Grandpa Jack Koch, Armed Forces, World War II, stationed in Hawaii

"History is nothing but a series of stories, whether it be world history or family history."
Bill Mooney and David Holt, The Storyteller’s Guide.

The Vine Impostor

Photo from Everystock Photo

I love my backyard, it is a little oasis for my family. We love sitting with our morning coffee while listening to the birds or sipping a glass of wine on the deck in the evening putting our feet up to relax. Our property backs up to a natural gas pipeline and all sorts of vegetation grows outside of the fence line. Much of our time working in the yard is combating the creeping weeds that wants to sneak in but this is a story of how we let one impostor take residence.

When we first moved in I surveyed the area and was pleased to see two grapevines growing against two fence posts. I wondered what variety they were as they were not listed on the detailed list of vegetation the previous owner took effort in providing us.

I watched as the ornamental peach burst forth with flowers, the crape myrtles bloomed and the jasmine scent wafted through the air. I was astounded at the fast growth of the grapevine and let it take over some of the fence line to support the expected  abundance of grapes, even to the point it began to inter mesh with the trumpet vine, but I wanted to yield as much fruit as I could so I let it grow.

The season for harvesting grapes came and went and I went out to the fence, put my hand on my hip and with disappointment started cutting back the vines. I thought, "maybe the previous owner didn't properly prune them last year," and that was the cause for not one single cluster of grapes. I got them to a manageable point and thought, "next year will be the year."

Next year came and again no fruit was to be found. That's when I had it and just cut the vines all the way to the ground, yanking and pulling the tendrils and leaves into a huge pile for the trash bin. I thought, "what useless grapevines."

I decided to take the dog on a walk down the pipeline one day and noticed many other fences had these same grapevines and even a few trees and scrub bushes had them too. That's when I finally realized these vines were impersonators. In reality they were a weed and people here in Texas call them wild grapes. I found that deceivingly odd, since they don't even have wild fruit, just the look of the real leaves and vine. I did some head slapping and guffawing at my failure to notice the counterfeit.

Today, as I was tending to these impersonators I found myself talking to God about how false religions acts in the same manner or another way of looking at it; how anything outside of His will and character acts in the same manner.

How beautiful the impostor looks, how enchanting to the senses it feels, how wonderful the perception of what you'll gain. It strokes emotion, it has elements of the real deal, you tend it, you let it grow because of the expectations you put on it. The end result is one overgrown mess that chokes out anything healthy and real trying to grow up around it. The crushing blow is it bears no fruit, leaving you empty handed, hungry and obviously not satisfied.

The tragedy lies in the impostors blinding deception, it becomes a circular habit; as most don't tear down the impostor but tend to it futilly year after year hoping to squeeze blood from a turnip. (ha, just had to use that one) The blinders don't allow for the real vine with abundant fruit to be experienced.

And this is where the beauty of Jesus shines on the situation. How can we know the real from the impostor? How can we be free from the reaching tendrils of deception? It is through God's Son and submission to Him.

How could I not end this post with John 15...Jesus said, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener..."

The Age of Tainted Light

I just finished reading a very well written biography on Thomas Paine by Jack Fruchtmann, Jr. called Thomas Paine, The Apostle of Freedom. I felt it was thorough and balanced in giving an objective picture of a very controversial figure. After reading about this revolutionary iconoclast I could not let some thoughts rest, before I hash through some of the thoughts I better give some background first.

Paine's influence spread in America from his boisterous call to stand against oppression and tyranny through his pamphlet Common Sense. He has been considered the Father of the American Revolution and a supporter and instigator in the French Revolution. He spent much of his time in France where he wrote The Rights of Man. Paine wielded his pen like a sword to the extent his birth country, England, wanted him arrested and brought  to trial. He even wanted to help Ireland start a revolution of their own. In short, he was a great agitator.

I thought about letting my thoughts bounce around in my head and leave it at that, but a recent chat with my Dad impressed me to go ahead and put them on paper. Sometimes a discussion can give relevance for the need to write things down. My Dad and I can touch on many subjects while we talk and two topics that we like to linger on are History and the Bible. He was reading a biography on Bonhoeffer and I was telling him about Paine. We love comparing and contrasting details and relate them to the current events. When we do that our conversation always comes to the topic of mankind's position in the grand scheme of things. The figures written about throughout history all have the opportunity to deal with the position mankind faces. The way in which they choose to submit or not submit to the position is what makes their lives a learning tool for future generations.

I've been studying various times in History as a hobby for some time now and one question I have in the back of my head as I read historical accounts is this: Is the thinking in our modern age of progress and technology any different from ages past? Is our thinking advanced, taking us to higher places as the 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st Century seem to love laying claim to?

Photo By: Undy

I'll pick on the 18th Century because this has been my focus lately. Reading about the Age of Enlightenment parallels the 21st century quite nicely. According to Kant, The Enlightenment was "Mankind's final coming of age, the emancipation of the human consciousness from an immature state of ignorance and error." Thomas Paine was the climactic figure of this statement, he sums it up in his book The Age of Reason. This was his "enlightened" masterpiece, his tribute to progress. His arrival into the realm of liberation and freedom was to attack the Word of God, throw out all 'superstitious' miraculous sections, annihilate the prophets, and reduce Jesus to a good teacher and the Holy Spirit to an absurd ghost story. The Bible was merely a book to entertain with a few good moral stories. Paine went on to declare Science as the ultimate gavel for judging what was real and what was not.

One would think Paine was an atheist with his vehement onslaught on the Bible but on the contrary, he was a deist. He did believe there was a God, in fact, Paine created his own religion called Theophilanthropism, meaning: God, Love, Man. His goal was to : "heighten the spirituality of all people, to bring them to harmony with themselves, their fellow human beings, the universe and ultimately God." Paine also took part in a sect called the Illuminists, "writers were to transform the world by simultaneously being centers of light and a body of resistance and to be legislators of the universe." Another club Paine frequented was called "Le Cercle Social" meaning circle of light. This excerpt from Fruchtman's book explains the nature of their ideals. "France had been fully enmeshed in a series of radical changes in lifestyle, which followed on the heels of vast political change...Religious ceremonies took on an earthly quality. A return to things natural, to nature herself, meant that ceremonies were regarded as festivals where statues of Dame Nature became the centerpiece. Festivals celebrated the new model of nature and light. An enlightened populace had set off a spark of revolution...time, place and all humanity were fully subsumed by nature and the seasons." (pages 377-379-various quotes taken from these pages)

This was elitist thinking of the 18th Century, the currents ran deep in Europe and were subtle in America but alive and kicking. Many of the Founding Fathers leaned towards Enlightened thinking. Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and yes, George Washington were influenced to some degree by the ideology of the time.

Fast forward to the 21st Century and look closely at the political and cultural structure. You don't have to look hard to find The New Age movement is an obvious product of the Enlightenment. It takes all religions and makes them acceptable and they tout "light" as their feel good mantra. If you are on the path to knowing your true self, you will know God. Go back and read Paine's goal for his idea of religion. Eerily similar. The only difference is it is more widespread and open and called many different names.

How many times have you heard Oprah, talk like that? Have you seen this type of talk in your community or in your church? The Earth and nature and the study of natural laws (science) take center stage in our modern culture. (Worshiping the creation instead of the Creator.)

If you look at the past 200 years not much has changed, the progression is found in the widespread acceptance of an ideology opposite of what God tells us is truth, which is in reality a form of idolatry. Where's the "light" in that?

Paine, like many others, decided to reject the truth of man's position and make up his own rules (religion). For a man who hung his hat on hating religion, he found himself caught up in the web of it by creating his own. Doesn't this sound familiar? Read Isaiah 14:12-15, the first rejection and rebellion against truth. Let me clarify what 'position' am I talking about? The position of man is that we are sinful and in need of a savior. This is fact whether we like it or not (Romans 3:10). If one can come to terms with this and submit to the fact of our depraved state, the Word of God becomes our lifeline that points to the One (Jesus) who could (and did) change our fate.

If you fail to understand your position, then you remain spiritually dead, and the outcome is similar to the ravings of The Age of Reason. Romans 1:18-32 Explains this in perfect detail. Verse 25  is loud and clear, "Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator..."

When you are spiritually dead, you can not understand the things of God.( Romans 1:19, Ephesians 4:18). Paine was an obvious example of this. How ironic a hired pen, a writer by trade, couldn't even begin to comprehend the theme of the Bible. From the very beginning The Book explains a problem; sin entered a perfect world causing a dilemma. and throughout the text which spans hundreds of years with real people used as God's messengers; some of which were contemporaries and some who did not know of each other, to reveal God's solution to the problem through His Son Jesus. Over three hundred prophecies about Jesus in the Old Testament have been fulfilled in the New Testament, this cohesiveness over such a long time period is a miracle in itself. One more small point and then I'll shut up, it is not hard to pinpoint an authors style, once you read Tennyson or Grisham or pick any of your favorite authors, you can see their unique stamp on the page. The Bible has God's unique, divine stamp throughout the pages of His Word, and once you KNOW Jesus through personal relationship just as the author's of the Bible did you can see Him everywhere.

I'll make my last statement short. Aside from the true light; only found in Jesus, one can only lack luster and the tainted light will eventually lead you down a path where you'll find yourself lost.

Jesus: "I AM the LIGHT of the world. John 8:12

Which "light" illuminates your path?














  

Great Museum Experience- Austin Capitol

Photo by: cogdogblog



Great Museum Experience- Austin Capitol -The Seal of Texas

By: Alexandra Brown

When I went to the Austin Capitol, I learned that the Texas State Seal is hidden all over the building. I was able to locate the Seal on the outside corners of the building and on the tiles set in the floor.

The Texas State Seal is a circle with a silver star in the center. Surrounding the star is a live oak branch to the left and an olive branch to the right. The words, ‘State of Texas’ curve over the top of the star. The live oak branch represents strength and the olive branch represents peace. The seal also has a reverse side depicting The Six flags flown over Texas and the words, ‘Remember the Alamo’.

The Texas Seal is used to make a document official and shows it is from the State of Texas.

Source: www.lsjunction.com

Photos By: Chandra Brown
The Rotunda

Louis Braille: Father of Literacy For The Blind

Alex Brown's Presentation of the Life of Louis Braille

Louis Braille was born in Coupvray, France on January 4, 1806. Louis had four siblings; three sisters and one brother. Louis’ father owned a saddle and harness shop when Louis was three his father left him unattended in the shop. Louis tried to poke a hole through a piece of material with a sharp tool, he did not have the strength to pierce the leather and he accidentally stabbed his eye. The wound became infected due to delayed professional medical attention. The infection soon spread to his other eye causing Louis Braille to lose his sight.

A priest named Jacques Paully voluntarily taught Louis until he was afforded a scholarship to a school called, The Royal Institute for the Blind. Louis found great pleasure in the outlet of music; he was also skilled at knitting and slipper making. In 1836 Louis invented a writing called raphigraphy which used raised dots that formed the letters of the alphabet. Louis got the idea in his school system through an art form called embossing. He was able to simplify reading for the blind with his six dot system. Louis even wrote a few books with his new system to add to the school library. Sadly, his invention was suppressed by the head master of the school. Through the persistence and demand of the students, Louis’ system was kept alive. Despite opposition, Louis was faithful to his school through his devotion to adding more books to the library as well as teaching.

Louis was dedicated to his work and he spent his life giving the gift of literacy to the blind. Due to his constant work pace and poor living conditions he contracted tuberculosis and died at the age of forty-three.

            Louis’ legacy made it to the United States when Braille was first introduced in1860 at the Missouri School for the Blind.

Source: The World at His Fingertips: A Story about Louis Braille, by Barabara O'Conner.

Cilantro Summer Grilling

Photo By: Henrique Vicente

One of my all time favorite cookbooks is the Colorado Collage, it's a wedding gift that has been my go to book for many occasions through thirteen years of marriage. It has oil splatters and food stains on just about every page. There hasn't been a recipe yet I have not liked.

Since chicken is a staple for many households and it is easy to get in the chicken rut. I thought I'd share this tasty Summer recipe that pleases guests and will make you look like a gourmet chef. The best part is this recipe is simple, but you can tout it as an exotic foreign treat with ancient roots to impress your dinner guests.  

Oaxacan Chicken With Avocado Lime Sauce

1 bunch fresh cilantro, stemmed and chopped

6 Tablespoons lime juice (fresh squeezed)

2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest

1 cup fresh lemon juice

2 Tablespoons Olive oil

2 teaspoons minced garlic, divided salt

8 boneless skinless chicken breasts halves (about 2 lbs total)

2 large ripe avocados, peeled and seeded

2 green onions, finely chopped

Dash of Tabasco

1 Red bell pepper,cored, seeded and quartered

GARNISH: fresh or purchased salsa

In medium bowl combine, combine cilantro, lime juice, lime zest, lemon juice, oil, 1 teaspoon of the garlic and salt to taste. Remove and reserve 1/4 cup for sauce. Combine remaining cilantro mixture and chicken and marinate in refrigerator, 2 hours, turning once.

In large bowl, mash avocados. Add reserved 1/4 cup cilantro mixture, green onions, remaining 1 teaspoon garlic and Tabasco to taste. Stir until well blended. Preheat grill to medium. Grill chicken, discarding marinade, about 7 minutes per side until thoroughly cooked. During last 7 minutes of grilling time, add bell peppers to grill. Place chicken breasts on individual serving plates, spoon reserved avocado sauce on top. Slice bell pepper into strips and place on top of sauce. Garnish with salsa.

Interesting Note: "In the Ancient Aztec diet, a sauce of avocado, lime, peppers, and tomato, rich in Vitamin C, was a staple."

Cilantro Fun Facts:

Cilantro is also called coriander

Cilantro is used in Thai, Indian, Mexican as well as European and American Cuisine

Cilantro helps remove heavy metal toxins in the body (yes, even mercury)

Cilantro is a digestive aid (enzymes help eliminate bad breath)

Cilantro is a cleaner, it reduces bacteria food born illness

Cilantro is a blood sugar regulator

I bet Cilantro tastes refreshing juiced with cucumber and apple.

What are some of your favorite cilantro recipes?

Source:

Recipe credit goes to Colorado Collage, The Junior League of Denver, 1995. Page 269.

Blooming Pirouette

Photo by: Chandra Brown

Natures ballet is on display

Tempo slow

Adagio

Aplomb petals synchronized

Twirling exposition

Pas de un

Dance of the flowers

Blooming pirouette

Arabesque

by:Chandra Brown
Title by: Alexandra Brown

Kefir Tiki Masala For The Crockpot

There is a restaurant in Westminster, Colorado that I just can't seem to find a comparison to here in Austin. My sweet in-laws are lucky enough to live quite close to the Jewel of India. Once in a while they'll post on Face book that they dined there which sends my lip into the pouting stance. I sit at the computer yearning for the delectable spices and authentic foods as I jealously post a comment about their dining experience.

A few weeks back I was in a large food rut, I was just getting ready to succumb to another monotonous dinner choice when my sister-in-law, Danette posted they had been to Jewel of India. I just couldn't take it anymore. I had to try to replicate the Tiki Masala the best I could. I was craving that delicious, savory, melt in your mouth sauce.

I rummaged through my fridge and pantry grabbing at what I had and I thought, " Chandra, you've thrown together some doozies before, if this one fails at least you can blame it on the inexperience of cooking a foreign dish and just chalk it up to a learning adventure." That is a big deal for me because if I put effort into any dish and it turns out bad I get a bit perturbed at the wasted time and food. I've got two particular eaters in the house and if they don't like it they won't eat it.

So, instead of scrolling through countless recipes on the Internet or in my cookbooks and since this was a big experiment and the chance it was going in the dogs bowl or worse, the trash, I just winged it.
No measuring utensils needed I just plopped and poured and guessed at it all. Boy was I elated that this flotsam and jetsam concoction turned out so darn good that we ate every last bit; dragging the naan through the sauce on the plate in back and forth patterns to sop every last drop up. I sat there with a very pleased look on my face as I saw three plates of food being eaten with relish. I made everyone happy in the house and did it with a foreign dish that in my judgment is pretty darn hard to replicate. So I have to share the recipe for those fellow Indian food lovers who can't get to Jewel of India.

Photo by: Michael Whays

CHANDRA'S CROCK POT TIKI MASALA
Place 4-6 bone-in, skin on chicken thighs in the crock pot. Salt chicken. (this cut of chicken is necessary as it makes the best broth that blends with the below sauce). Set crock pot to low.

Sauce:
1 16oz. Can of diced tomatoes with garlic and olive oil
1/4 cup Helios kefir with kos (this kefir tastes like sour cream)
1 Tablespoons of Patak's Madras Curry Paste

Put in a food processor and blend till sauce consistency. Pour over chicken in crock pot cover with lid and let cook all day. Just before serving take out chicken, let cool, de-bone and de-skin and place back in sauce to reheat.

Serve with side of brown or white rice and warmed butter naan. (H-E-B brand naan is the best)

Serves 3-4 people.

Maybe we have been so deprived of the excellent tastes of the Jewel of India and have settled with this version to get us by, but it sure turned out great and will be a standby till we can make it back to our favorite Indian restaurant.

Let me know what you think?

Now I just have to get Saag down!

Kefir Taste Test

I am excited to finally get to this post. I have been wanting to talk about kefir for a few weeks but have been waylayed by beautiful flowers, girl scout activities, preparing for Holidays and a healthy load of staging work.

Kefir is one of the products that has hit a market trend recently but has been around for centuries. It is on a health food comeback and I hope it sticks around for good. My good friend Nancy turned our family on to this beneficial product.

When I first took a taste I wondered if my daughter, who is the pickiest of our brood would even try it. It is a bit tart. I am happy to say she is our biggest consumer. She has a small glass for breakfast and takes it to school for lunch, she also asks for it as a treat at night time. It is one of those YES, YES, YES foods, please eat this food, have as much as you want foods.

Kefir Taste Test

Brand 1 : Lifeway

The Raspberry and Strawberry banana Kefir by Lifeway passes the taste test and is our favorite. The sugar content is high and we only have this as a treat. We do like that they make the ProBug pouches that can go in lunches.

I was saddened that my local grocery store started off with a strong start with this brand and product and carried the FAT, PLAIN kefir (a lot less sugar) but as time went by, eliminated it. Most  likely due to the NO FAT, not sweet enough lie that is epidemic in our food culture.

We love putting this in smoothies, on top of fruit in the morning or drinking straight from the glass.




Brand 2: Helios with Kos

This particular brand tastes more along the lines of sour cream. The sugar content was low and the Fat factor was there but the taste was too strong for drinking straight even with a teaspoon of honey. I wasn't about to let this nutrient rich bottle go to waste. I used it in an amazing Indian food recipe and it was what made the recipe! (recipe to follow in a future post) This brand is great for cooking with.

Brand 3: Redwood Farms Goat Kefir

Redwood Hills Farm Goat Kefir is without a doubt my favorite of the store bought varieties. It was also the most expensive. The thick, creamy rich taste with a dollop of honey was delicious. It had all the FAT and low sugar. It also was not as tart as the cow versions. A winner if the budget allows.

Brand 4: Beyond Organic Amasai

All photo and Trademark properties belong to
 Beyond Organic Foods.

OK, folks the buck stops here. This product gets the top rating and blows the competition out of the water. I saved the best for last. Green fed cultured Amasai deserves top honors because one doesn't have to wonder if the product meets organic standards. In fact, it supersedes them. Beyond organic has taken the high road and taken extra measures from soil, to grass, to cow, to production in making sure you receive the healthiest most nutrient dense product.  Not only do you get ALL that was intended from a cultured dairy product; the taste is truly refreshing and perfectly balanced. With flavors like Milk and Honey, Plain and Raspberry you can't wrong in satisfying varied palettes.

The low temperature pasteurization process leaves proteins in their whole undenatured form and keeps enzymes intact along with the good bacteria (probiotics). Amasai is stock full of vitamin A,D,K, and E and is truly satisfying. Drinking (16 ounce bottle) half a bottle sustained me for the entire morning.

Founder of Beyond Organic, Jordan Rubin can attest to the magnificent healing power of drinking cultured beverages and has dedicated his life to bringing the same opportunity of dynamic health to those that truly want to take responsibility for their own well-being.

I didn't mean to get away from the taste test results but when you find someone doing it right when it is so easy to do what the rest of the industry is doing you have to give credit where it is due. If you are interested in obtaining a sample of your own Amasai, contact my friend Nancy by clicking on her name. She is a fully accredited nutritional distributor of Jordan's top of the line products.

I challenge you to do your own taste test and get back to me with your results.

Bon Apetit!

Solitary Beauty

Questioning eyes cast upon a solitary beauty...

Closed petals sit demurely upon sepals seat  

modestly concealing style

petal grasps taut

reveal what you hold;

geometric carpel 

intelligent design

star angled pattern

stamen vivid bright

a secret in the open

  passersby delight

By: Chandra Brown

Photos By: Chandra Brown