Welcome Heart, Sue Donaldson, Speaker

"You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God..."

--Psalm 119:1a The Message

Too often we complain, grousing about, grumbling - silently, maybe. We say we don't know what to do, and in the meantime, make a mess of things. God gives enough light for the day, for the hour, the moment; I don't always choose to follow. Today, I began leaning off course--even conversed a bit (to myself - my best audience!) about what I deserved, what I might say, what I could do, how I might feel. The "I" got in the way of "the road revealed by God." Thankfully, Psalm 119 was my morning reading, and in spite of my aged birthday yesterday, I remembered the Word and words and decided to stay on course. God's grace. I'm blessed, as promised.

"...You're blessed when you follow His directions, doing your best to find Him."

--Psalm 119:1b The Message

Recipe for a happy birthday - well wishers, breakfast out with work friends, an hour at Panera by myself, shopping, gifts at the front door (bling apron and rubber gloves!), lunch with girlfriends, looking at kitchens with Mark (don't get too excited - we are at the BEGINNING STAGES OF KITCHEN DESIGN), new Fernando Ortega CD - (heaven!), girls all home (loud and lovely), funny sister poem or pome, lobster for dinner, fab new cookbook - so much more (and Moore!)

Thank You, God. I love birthdays and birthday blessings - see Jan's below and take it for your own!

From Jan:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUE!
I am thinking about the importance of this day in your own life and in the lives of everyone whose life is in some way mingled with yours.  I pray you will open the gift of this new decade with joy and strength and wisdom!

Thank you, Jan - I have opened this new decade with a bang. Annadale (86) told me today: "You're well prepared now to live your life." Glad for that.  I hope so, I ate enough for a decade.

PS Thanks to all you well-wishers. Birthdays bring out the true gift of Facebook - I heard from very old friends, students, boyfriends, their mothers...jk

"God created the world out of nothing, and as long as we are nothing, he can make something out of us."

--Martin Luther

...May-Really-Close...to my 60th (May 25th)

I have heard of others turning 60, even 70, but not me.

A new decade calls for some self-reflection."What are you doing the rest of your life?" goes the song. I may not live beyond today - nor you, of course. But decades are good. I may have 10 more years.

My Heavenly Father is more interested in "Who am I being the rest of my life?" Each new day is the rest--since we don't know the end from the beginning.

Prayer for a new decade - join me even if you're one of those young whipper snappers who tolerates me or is mildly amused:

Father God,

May my attitude be the same as Your Son, Jesus, humble as unto death... Philippians 2

May I always give You thanks while asking away for all my many (many) supplications...Philippians 4

May I know You more and more and more, no matter what comes...Philippians 3

May I live up to Your expectations, a new creature in Christ...II Corinthians 5

May I cling to You like Jacob, until You bless me...Genesis 32

May I give more (much) than I receive...Acts 20

May I show Who you are by what I know of You...Philemon 6

May I bear Your fruit through Your incarnation in my life...Galatians 5

Most of all, I'm so glad to be Yours and so very loved! Amen.

Wow! Should be a great 10 years! The celebration began on Monday with Trish's strawberry sponge cake - recipe to follow - remind me, I may forget...I'll be old soon.

Someone (who knows, apparently) said:

"Tomatoes and oregano make it Italian; wine and tarragon make it French. Sour cream makes it Russian; lemon and cinnamon make it Greek. Soy sauce makes it Chinese; garlic makes it good."

That said, not sure what this simple chicken entree is really (Polynesian??) but it's called:

Mexican Chicken in Orange Juice

6-8 chicken pieces

salt and pepper

3 T. butter or coconut oil

1/2 cup sliced almonds

1/3 cup seeded golden raisins (I forgot those...)

1 cup crushed pineapple, with liquid*

1/8 t. cinnamon

1/8 t. ground cloves

2 cups orange juice

1 T. flour

1 - 2 T. cold water

Avocado for garnish

Sprinkle chicken w/ salt and pepper. Melt butter in large skillet, add chicken and sauté until browned on both sides. Add next 6 ingredients. Cover and simmer for 35- 40 minutes. Mix flour w/ water to make a smooth paste. Stir into the pan juice after removing chicken to a warmed platter. (I forgot that part...) Pour a little of the sauce over the chicken and serve the remainer in a gravy boat. Garnish with slices of avocado and serve with fluffy rice. (from Delectable Collectibles)

This is a simple (really simple) company dish, so go for it! I served it last night with rice, sourdough rolls, and spinach salad with bacon and blue cheese. I started with fresh salsa and tortilla chips and wedged fresh pineapple dipped in chocolate raspberry sauce - just because -- and added both to the dinner, and everyone was happy. And, it didn't even have garlic! Let me know how you like it.

*Remind me to tell you what to do with the other half of the canned crushed pineapple...college girls coming for lunch on Sunday and Tammy Arlen's best oven bbq chicken recipe calls for it - yea!

I sat next to a young woman at a conference at which I was speaking on "hospitality." She said, "I didn't go to your workshop because we are remodeling. We can't have company."

I didn't have the heart to tell her we're in the middle of 7 years of remodeling - I shouldn't say "middle"- maybe it's the first eighth?? One night we served dinner guests on the bed in the guest room. We didn't have walls in the front of the house, but kept a portable heater in that room. Not exactly Martha Stewart, but fun!

I love to remind myself that people come over to see me, not my house. (Except when Mark invites some guy off the street to examine his last bit of remodeling...) I like a clean house. I don't like cleaning. (I admit it.) Some wonderful old friends came for dinner tonight - they come once a year - and their home is immaculate, honest. But they love Mark and I more than our house. Trish didn't say one thing about the dust. She did say she loved the food and would be praying for our family. Love that Trish and Bob!

A tip from an older, wiser lady: "When company's coming, dim the lights, light the candles--no need to dust!" --Marianne Bulkley

Another tip from the indomitable Erma Bombeck:

"My theory on housework is, if the item doesn't multiply, smell, catch on fire or block the refrigerator door, let it be. No one cares. Why should you?"

My theory is: people are grateful to be invited, period.

Do what you can. Dim the lights. Don't let the dust settle before you make that call.

I love reading my brother Hyatt's blog--Blank Slate --not only for the blog itself, but for all the great "comments" written by his readers. Profound, some, and funny, as he is.

http://www.hyattmoore.com/blank-slate

In case you don't get that far down the page to read what others are thinking and writing, here's a great one from Carolyn two days ago--on that life-giving attitude of gratitude:

Thankfulness must be the fruit of letting go of angst and resting our minds on what's true. It's the "Ahhhhhhh" moment of release to God. Thankful to know God's got it handled, burden is lifted, it's okay. This is His will. I am free to be thankful in it...not for it. - Carolyn

Love this, Carolyn. Which comes first? 

I give thanks, I get rest and peace; or, I let go of my worry,  and I can't stop thanking Him?  Like the  proverbial chicken/egg conundrum, the order doesn't matter so much as following orders.

Resting our minds is a fruit of a thankful heart; yet, the act of thanking God in all things, as He expects, gives peace.

As He expects. He knows us, yet He expects us to give thanks. Trusting His reliability comes from experiencing His reliability, and thanking Him along the way.

PS

I'll try writing shorter blogs to give you more room.

Boden's Spring clothing catelog gives us 696 New Reasons to Be Gruntled (as opposed to disgruntled.) We know how to be disgruntled. ("The disgruntled professor looked down at me from his horn-rimmed glasses as I sidled into my chair 15 minutes late, again." Can you tell I'm helping Mary with her vocabulary tests?)

Disgruntled: angry, dissatisfied

I'll admit, I've never used "gruntled" in a sentence. Maybe I'll start tomorrow. Maybe not.

Gruntled: pleased, contented, satisfied - back formation from disgruntled (I didn't know words did back formations.)

I loved this catelog - I became gruntled, in fact. (Nope, don't think this word is going to catch on...) HOWEVER,  dresses for $148.00 (plus shipping) takes the gruntled out of the dis--. Bummer.

Every day is a new catelog. I can choose to enjoy the good - there's always good - and dis the not-so-good. Too often the one bad page takes over. How come? I forget to look up. I might have 695 reasons to be content, but that nasty 696th ruins my day-- which can somehow ruin Mark's day, Mary's day, Sunny-the-Good-Dog's day--all because my eyes are glued to the wrong page. (Sunny does grunt, I have to tell you.)

Paul said:

"Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2)

As Jan said, "God won't do for us what He intends for us to do" - in this case, look up and see what matters.

Thank God. That sets your mind. Looking up vs. looking down. It's a back-formation to my natural inclination. I never could do back-flips.

"Lord, help me keep my eyes up - on You.  Amen."

Why can't we have a:

"Send Your Kids to Work While We Lie Around Watching TV" Day?

Hasn't happened yet, obviously...

     I'm grateful for my kids. The more I thank God, the less I worry. I need to thank Him more. Here's some refreshing words from Ann Voskamp:

"Thanks is what builds trust [in God.] Every time fear freezes and worry writhes, every time I surrender to stress, aren't I advertising the unreliability of God?" --One Thousand Gifts

I don't want to be that kind of advertisement - on TV or not. Join my thankful sisterhood (or brotherhood...) Name your thankfuls. Tell God your gratefulness, line by line. You will advertise His reliability, your trust will grow, your kids will know Who God is. Now that's something to be grateful for. While you're at it, you may just want to lie down and watch TV just to see how it feels...

Feels good. Go, Lakers!

Pastor Tim's been doing a bang-up job in James this month. I will miss it, even though it punches buttons needing punching (stepping on my tender-soul-toes.) Thanks be to God. He doesn't give up on me, nor should I.

Tim said:

The opposite of humility is arrogance. (I want that opposite.)

Two places arrogance lurks in our lives is:

1. Any negative speech against someone else (Any? Even that glance from-on-high, pursed lips, or the high-arched eyebrow--waxed or non-? Who's the only judge?  God. Remember, Sue, God only)

2. Making our plans without God in mind. James doesn't condemn making plans; just making them as if God doesn't exist. (I know God exists; I don't want plans without Him, honest. Peace comes from following the Leader, no matter where, no matter what.)

Feeling trampled? Good - join the club, right here behind the Everlasting Leader. Don't let the big "A" lurk. Amen. I need to go soak my feet.