Tag Archives: Girlfriends

Healing – Part 1

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Healing is like a flower blossom each petal needs to open in its own time.”

Anonymous

My healing came through blessing others.

How could I change and be a little miracle to others, like Peg did all the time.

Peg knew everyone’s birthday.

She probably knew her mail lady’s birthday.

A simple step, but it would mean writing down birthdays.

For me,  that often means a visit to my favorite florist, Lisa.

I love to hear her say, “So who is it for today!”

She listens and creates a visible expression of the friend I’m celebrating.

A single rose or wildflowers with a ribbon when someone doesn’t expect it.    IMG_5228 Showing the grandeur of God’s beauty and His expansive love through flowers.

Healing happens very slowly as the petals unfold.

I lift you into the prayer below.

Jesus loves you so much.

You are His beautiful masterpiece created in the image of Almighty God.

Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think- according to the power that works in you- to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen

Ephesians 3:20,21

 

Anonymous Quote from a recent interview on the Today Show with Sara Connell author of “Bringing In Finn” and inspiration for the upcoming movie “Return to Zero” starring Minnie Driver

Sara Connell author of Bringing in Finn

Words That Heal – Part 12

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“What was healing to hear when your sister passed?” a good friend asked me recently.  Her son had just died tragically, her soul laid bare.  She knew I had lost a sister to cancer two years ago, and she was searching for hope and comfort.

For me, my deep sorrow had transitioned more into wondering about her in heaven in a positive way, than in my earliest months in a sea of sorrow.  Tears no longer rush uncontrollably to the forefront and stream down my face at every thought.   Grief is a journey, a very slow process of healing where the white water rapids eventually yield over time to  less swift currents that carry us to more peaceful and living waters.  It would be the same for her, and in her own unique way.  Everyone goes through the journey.

Without words, I just held her close.

Peg, my sister,  loved birds of all kinds, and every time I see a cardinal sit and eat the corn at my squirrel feeder,  I think of her and its as if we laugh together.

Cardinal by Kelly Bryant

Cardinal by Kelly Bryant Photography

She was St. Francis to the birds and squirrels who came to her bird feeder each and every day.   When she passed, my friend Heather Reimann said it best,

” I see how upset you are, do you want to talk about it?”

Heather was and remains a faithful and healing presence in my life.

We drank fresh strawberry smoothies and swam.

Tears turned to laughter.

Thirteen words were healing to me.

 

 

 

Cardinal by Kelly Bryant      fineartamerica.com/profiles/kelly-bryant.html

 

 

 

Red Winter Wheat Berry Scones

01 Friday Mar 2013

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Our local literary society read Mansfield Park this month celebrating the 200th anniversary of the publishing of Pride and Prejudice. Two great authors on my mind today, Ann Kroeker and Jane Austen.

The following is my attempt to serve something Jane may have enjoyed two hundred years ago and Ann Kroeker and I have enjoyed many times over the years.

A friend offered to grind wheat berries in his Vitamix, and my challenge began. The flour was very coarse.photo (44)

My scone recipe comes from Tea and Inspiration , by Mary Pielenz Hampton page 33.

Order a copy from Ann’s link to Amazon on her blog.  AnnKroeker.com

I associate scones with Ann and celebrate her today and God’s great love for me as we became friends almost twenty years ago. Ann encouraged me to write my blog and mentors me as I pen online to all of you.

I use only a tablespoon and 1/2 of sugar, and I think that is a big part of the success in the flavor. I also use non-salted organic butter.

Begin by cutting 1/2 stick of butter in tiny pieces and dropping into 2 cups of flour, 1 tablespoon of baking powder and 1-2 tablespoons of sugar mix thoroughly with your hands until  tiny particles of butter coat the flour. Drizzle in 2/3 c of whole milk and flatten into a circle with your hands, and place it in Saran wrap and then fold a towel over it to seal and make sure the moisture stays in tact.

This will keep a couple of hours until you are ready to bake, and you can stack several.

The scones go in the oven at 425 degrees as your family arrives home.photo (45)

Ten minutes to hot scones, preserves, clotted cream and pair with a nice Darjeeling tea make a late afternoon or early evening party. My husband is home with a horrible cold, so I served his afternoon scone with butter.photo (47)Ann sent this lovely trivet with a gift set of scone mix and jams to welcome our family to Texas.

photo (46)I am enjoying mine with crème.

Happy Ann Kroeker Day!

Recipes makes 6 scones

Charise’s Magic Potatoes

28 Friday Dec 2012

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A friend of mine brought an enormous sack of organic, non-gmo potatoes to share with our church family at Hope Bible Fellowship.

Charise encourages me every day through her posts to add healthy rich herbs and spices with natural antibiotics to give my system a boost.

We have a  health-conscious congregation and it was a great blessing to everyone.

As you can see from my recipes, I’m not as careful as most  cooks in the church.

I love to use butter, and sour cream and cheese.
I decided to make a potato dish every day.

It was fun to get creative, challenge myself in my cooking (which can get lazy) as I make my favorites over and over.
Monday – Cubed and sautéed potatoes with pumpkin to serve with the morning eggs with thyme.
Tuesday – Mashed potatoes with roasted garlic, thyme, and sour cream and butter.      photo (22)
Wednesday – Scalloped potatoes with garlic, chili powder…extra cheesy!
Thursday – Baked potatoes with basil and garlic.
Friday – Boiled potatoes served with peas, fresh mint and pats of butter.
Saturday – Baked steak fries in the oven topped with rosemary.

Weighed myself Sunday morning and I had magically lost 3 pounds eating potatoes!

God Bless Charise for sharing the goodness of God’s great bounty!

Ten Ideas For Wedding Showers

21 Saturday Jul 2012

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I was recently messaged by a very old friend that she would be hosting a wedding shower and would love some of the ideas I’ve used in the past. Pastor’s wives have the privilege of hosting when immediate family live out-of-town. I love to have parties, but hosting showers is hands down my favorite.

1. Mail out a small card for attendees to offer advice for the bride (enclose in the invitation).  Crane paper is best when available.

It is often the funniest moment of the event. Find the heaviest card stock available and within your budget for the invitation and the keepsake card.

2.  Ask an admired and beloved woman in the circle of family/friends to give a short meditation 3-7 minutes on the marriage union and what  they will need and not need from the group as they enter a very challenging transitional stage of their life.   Great quote to include….

I have often regretted my speech- never my silence”     Publius

3. Save all the ribbons from the unwrapped gifts and create a magnificent bouquet for the bride to carry at the rehearsal.   In the south often a substitute bride will be chose from the bridesmaids to serve the honored role in rehearsal.  Growing up in Iowa, of course, I carried my ribbon bouquet.

4. Every bride has a favorite flower. My flower 26 years ago was a deep pink rose…today I still stop as I walk my sweet Daisy and smell the pink roses when they are in bloom here in Texas.

Some brides love camelias’, Gerber daisy’s, hydrangea’s are popular. If at all possible have a few dispersed in the room in a color to match the bridesmaids dresses.

5. The punch must also match the dresses and if sherbet is not available in the color you need…plan ahead and make it yourself. Sherbet in punch is sooo good!

6. Photos of the bride as a little girl. This is just a sweet addition to cause all to pause and reflect on.

7. Display in a side room  a little glimpse of the brides trousseau…perhaps just two outfits…the departing outfit and shoes and the swimsuit, cover up and sandals.

(I recommend brides switch into an outfit when they leave on their honeymoon, this allows for a trusted friend or family member to drop the dress by the cleaners for preparation and storage).

My Uncle Fred and Aunt Bernice from Seattle hosted a party at the hotel where everyone was staying after our Riverboat Cruise wedding reception. We changed into casual dress and it was fun to stop by very briefly to bid goodbye to everyone before we left for Cancun.

8. My friend Barbara Tompkins recommends giving two wrapped frames,  one with the brides family of origin and one with the bride and groom. The gift represents leaving and cleaving.  Stating this in front of the brides family and her fiance’s family is significant. Families can wreak havoc on a new couple when they need time just to separate and solidify as God intended.

The next two suggestions are from Barbara.

9. A monogrammed guest towel. This gift represents serving one another. Barbara suggested this gift also and attaching verses on cards about serving the Lord.

10. Measuring cups… you cannot measure Christ’s love.

P.S. Barb also likes to give two baseball caps to remind the couple no one wins if you are competitive with your spouse.

Marriages grow stronger every day with Christ at the center. Make all your choices with the Word for direction.

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:23 ESV

Marie’s Banana Pudding Cake

07 Saturday Jul 2012

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These last months have been very sad and physically draining with my beloved sis Peg’s passing. I was able to recover at the home of our friends Worthe and Marie.  Our families have been friends for half a century and we have been best of friends for 20 years. They were our first visitors after our daughter was born. We have shared the wonder and awe of life and highs and lows over the years.  Everyone loves Marie and she is a living breathing example of Proverbs 31:10-31.

Marie is a great cook.   She makes the most amazing hamburgers and homemade pizza, and her very comforting banana pudding dessert I recently enjoyed at her peaceful lakefront home is classic.

The original recipe was probably on a box, but I could not find it so here is how Marie made it.  

Glass Pyrex pan sprayed with Pam

6 bananas  (sliced thin)

1 box of vanilla wafers

2 large boxes of vanilla pudding

6 cups of milk

Make pudding with milk and set aside. Line the bottom of the pan with bananas. Place vanilla wafers on top of the bananas.  Spoon gobs of pudding sporadically over the top… leave enough for another layer. Line another row of bananas and top off with another layer of vanilla wafers.  Spoon remaining pudding and smooth over the top of all.

My pan was too big so I made a quick meringue.

6 egg whites

6 -12 tbs. of sugar

Whip with beater till stiff peaks form.

Oh Kale it’s a Wrap

28 Saturday Jan 2012

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My friend Becky was joining me for lunch yesterday and with only a quick fifteen minutes to relax I told her I would bring our lunches. The City of Austin is encouraging us to cut plastic from our lives, so in lieu of water bottles, I filled 2 small mason jars with filtered water for our beverage.  Classy.  In a hurry, I slapped together the strangest combination of ingredients and produced a most delicious Kale, hummus and roast beef egg roll wrap.  OK, it doesn’t sound great, but what joy it brought me when I took my first bite.  Turns out Becky couldn’t make it, so I doubled down on this delightful surprise with little worry of consuming too many calories.  Yum!  here’s what I did:

Lay kale leaf flat tearing off stemfof
Place generous dollop of roasted garlic hummus in the center
4-5 slices of roast beef
2 slices of tomato
2 slices of hot pepper jack cheddar
1 tsp. of horseradish (optional)
Wrap contents in wax paper tightly and weight a heavy book or marble if you have it for just a minute or two.
Place contents in egg roll wrap (wheat)and brown slightly in pan with just a drop of vegetable oil.  Substitue any meat, vegetable, evoo, or spring roll wrap (rice) would do nicely also.

Nancy Dytrich’s Cake Balls

18 Friday Jun 2010

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Nancy Dytrich is the Director of Women’s Ministries at Hope.  She is a woman of God that is so fired up about her faith it fires up everyone in her presence.   We traveled to the  retreat titled “Journey into Rest”  and sat as our speaker, Kathy White led a very special weekend deepening our intimacy not just in our friendship but a deepening delight in the Lord.  We arrived a day early for a leadership retreat that was expectantly canceled and enjoyed the entire ranch to ourselves.  She hiked and read and I slept.  We were canoeing one afternoon on a magnificent fall afternoon, birds chirping water lapping peacefully on the aluminum sides and all we could hear is a gal chatting on her blue tooth a million miles a minute alone in her canoe at a decibel level which included all in the river in her conversation. We will never forget the gal we paddled by in the other canoe.  The retreat title “Journey into Rest” I took literally and slept my way through the weekend and left with a strong visual picture of being in the canoe with my girlfriend Nancy experiencing God’s Glory in His Creation and being transformed in the clear cool autumn air.  Troubled deeply by seeing someone miss it,  I changed after that weekend and delay speaking or even checking messages on my cell anytime I’m in anyone’s presence even my family.   I don’t know the situation the young woman was in, perhaps checking in with her work.

1 cake mix, any flavor (probably best if it’s not “extra moist” variety

1 can frosting, any coordinating flavor lollipop or cookie sticks

White or chocolate candy coating or “almond bark”

Styrofoam blocks

Decorations and edible ink

Bake cake according to directions. Let cool entirely. (Make up to two days in advance as long as you cover it with aluminum foil.) When completely cool, break into pieces in a large bowl until cake is very crumbly. Mix in can of frosting, either by hand or with stand up mixer. If cake is very moist, may not need entire can of frosting. Using your hands or a melon baller, make small evenly sized balls( at Easter time,  slightly egg-shaped). size depends on size of sticks you will be using. For thin paper lollipop sticks, create balls  the diameter of a quarter. For cookie sticks of plastic and are thicker, the balls formed larger. Place balls on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper and refrigerate for at least an hour. Prepare candy coating, heat pieces in a small dish or ceramic dipping pot in the microwave at fifty percent heat, stirring every thirty seconds until completely melted. A double boiler will also work.  Texture is slightly thinner than yogurt or pudding. May add just a “hint” of shortening if needed for thinning, but do not overdo.  Once cake balls cool , and candy coating melts, dip 1/2 of stick in the coating and push about halfway into the ball.  This helps the ball stay on the stick.  Return to a cookie sheet and refrigerate for at least thirty minutes.  When well set, hold  the stick and swirl the cake ball in the coating, covering the entire surface (may take a little “practice” to get the technique down).  If coatings too thin, try heating a little longer.  To let cake pops dry upright, push the stick of the pop into a Styrofoam block.  Color white candy coating  (tint yellow for Easter chicks and pull up a little point at the top for the head; swirl colors into white for Easter eggs).  Be creative.  Decorate with sprinkles, sugar crystals, teeny-tiny colored chocolate chips, coconut, etc. dipping/ lightly rolling still-wet pops.  Use pieces of candy for feet, eyes, beaks, etc.  Make parts like ears with melted coating formed into shapes on wax paper and then cooled before attaching with another dab of coating.  Draw on dried coating with edible ink to make faces and  swirls.

Have a little summer fun with Cake!

Trish

Vegetarian Refried Beans

19 Saturday Sep 2009

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 This week our church started reading Ann’s book “Not So Fast”.  We had a  lot of laughs as our leader Debbi Keller had us name off all our roles on any given day.  The small group  spent most of the time just  getting acquainted.  We will meet for the next ten weeks to discuss two chapters a week, and pray for our children.  Two of the Mom’s are vegetarian and from India. Interesting to hear their stories of having arranged marriages.  Looking forward to next week and developing friendships with all the women in the group.

 

 

 October Fest Carnival

 Rosh Hashanah is literally the head of the Jewish New Year followed by ten “Days of Repentance.”  I think of my Jewish friends on Jewish holidays and of the many blessings they bring into my life.  I have learned the importance of planning meals ahead of time for the weekend and lessons of their Jewish faith, both lasting gifts from Stacie, Elisa, Julie and Wendy.   They prepare dishes early on Friday mornings so they can enjoy their family over the Shabbat or Sabbath. 

Here is a simple, heart healthy starter dish you can prepare for your family in advance for the weekend.  Top off salads, fish or tortillas, convert to chili, or do or anything else you imagine for that matter:

Boil 2 pounds of pinto beans for 1 hour  and drain off the water completely

Saute in EVOO, one ice-cream scoop full of chopped garlic 

Chop 1/4 of a red onion and toss in with the onions

Slice off 1/4 of a fresh jalepeno

1/4 cup of Valentina Salsa Picante 

Combine all with drained beans in crock pot on low and add water to about 1/2 way up the beans

Put the top on and set for 3 hours on low 

 The beans will be quite dry the first time served, but after a day or so in the fridge they’ll be quite nice. 

Serve with fresh cilantro, a squeeze of lime, and if your diet allows, La Morenita, Queso Fresco crumbled sparingly on the beans.

The only oil in the recipe to help justify the refried title is the extra virgin olive oil.

Cynthia Heald speaks on the Sabbath and rest in her new release this month.

“Jesus confirmed that the Sabbath, a day of rest instituted by God, was made for us (See Mark 2:27). Christians now set aside the Lord’s Day for worship, for our rest is not in a day, but in a Person. We are no longer bound by the Old Testament law to keep the Sabbath, but nevertheless I think that as we observe the rhythm of God, we would be wise to rest one day a week. I do my best to schedule one day where I do not have to do anything. It doesn’t mean that I sit all day and do nothing, but I avoid pressing appointments or obligations for that particular day. For me, at my season in life, it is a day for quiet, for extended time with God, or for time with a friend. I know what it is like to have children, activities, work, etc., but even with your family, do what you can to keep a day that is commitment free. I think that this is God’s way for us to manage stress – to stop and rest from our labor one day a week. ”  

                                                                                                                                       –  Cynthia Heald, Becoming a Woman of Simplicity,Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2009, pg.122, www.navpress.com

Rest up this weekend,

Trish

Uncommonly Beautiful Girlfriends Weekend

28 Tuesday Apr 2009

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My weekend began  in a torrential downpour while driving north on I-35.  It was thunderbolt alley all the way to Dallas.  Every fiber of my being wanted to stay home and not endure the stress of a rain-soaked ride.  Todd prayed for me, and encouraged me to take my time, stopping often.  What was the hurry anyway?  Contemplative exercising began on my way to the retreat, I meditated and slowed my pace.  My pace was sooo slow, I arrived 6 hours after departing, usually a 3 hour tour so I’m told. 

One of my dearest and oldest friends Amy(we’ve known each other 32 years) stayed on speaker phone supporting me along the journey as the water flooded the roads and buckets full of water blasted my windshield.  She has been with me in all sorts of dicey situations and this was no exception.  She was voted nicest in my high school.  A woman of gentle strength.  A true leader.  Her persuasive speech led me to a retreat 30 years ago where I met my Lord for the first time.   

Once I arrived, however road weary and rain soaked, it was another wonderful, life changing, and life challenging retreat.  This was the retreat of the women of Stonebriar, a congregation northeast of Dallas.  For many of us, we were renewed in all ways eternal, detoxing the synthetic ideas away as we  sat under the teaching of accomplished author and speaker Cynthia Heald (Author of the Best Selling Series Becoming a Woman of…. ) 

CARE (Christ’s Arms Reaching Everyone), a women’s ministry I was involved for four years until moving away in January, nourished me in this way.  Now it was a weekend of care for the soul – CARE was evident in the lives of the ladies over the whole weekend. Leaving CARE in Tucson, directed by the godly lady Barbara Tompkins was a raw and painful loss from my life in Arizona.  After 4 months away from the beloved women of CARE  God was lavishing me with John 15:15 as he did 30 years ago this month.

God’s friend:

A friend is a term of endearment that literally means one who walks beside, one who is near, one who is beloved, or those who belong to one another. As God made man, Jesus had every right to expect those He died for to serve Him as slaves, yet He chose to consider us His friends: “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends”

 (John 15:15)   Live Fearlessly by Lenya Heitzig & Penny Rose pg.197,

  Uncommon Beauty, 7 Qualities of a Beautiful Woman , Cynthia Heald’s latest book,  was our spiritual formation class for the weekend.

Although the women we will discuss were ordinary, they became beautiful by choosing to live extraordinarily. They were comfortable with who they were, they rose above their circumstances, and they persevered. Their lives have encouraged me to take risks, to seek wisdom, and to live selflessly. It is so easy for me to get caught up in my own world and seek comfort for myself alone. It is easy for me to focus more on my outward appearance than to develop gracious character. I have learned that lasting beauty is bestowed on those who posess “a certain something,” qualities that are the “soul’s own doing,” which can only be described as uncommonly beautiful. ”                 

 Cynthia Heald Uncommon Beauty , pg.8

Side note…I would like to place a copy of this book in every young woman’s hands I know in  middle school and above.  

  April 21st Chambers stated “We look for God to exhibit Himself to his children, but God only exhibits Himself in his children.” 

 He exhibited Himself in ladies I met through passion, wisdom, integrity, selflessness, graciousness, contentment and courage, the titles of all the chapters.  Cynthia also refered to her book Maybe God is Right After All,  because it was clear Cynthia has kept her hand in His encouraging us to do the same, for God’s Word Is All the Truth You’ll Ever Need, a chapter in the book… 

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-

 His good, pleasing and perfect will.”  Romans 12:2 

The radiance of Christ was clearly evident at a Marriot just north of Dallas.  The beaming smiles of godly women greeted me as I pulled into the underground garage, bathing away the grime of stress from this harrowing drive, and my new-found gracious friend Mary Shave (entertainment and emcee for the entire weekend) guided me to my room.  Joy and sorrow is part of every woman’s life, and this weekend was no exception.  When the speaker shared that  her Mom was struggling at the end of her 96th year of life, a group of women quietly left the room to pray for her non-stop while she spoke.  Servant’s hearts  were everywhere.  I received welcoming hugs from women I’d never met at most every turn.  More than Texas hospitality, this was the love of Christ in action.  The women in white were our spiritual leaders for the weekend.  Karen Hawkins and her worship team were obedient and humble as they spoke and sang us continually into His Presence in a ballroom.

My keepsake for the time with these eternal beauties was led by a woman of excellence, Dana Cooper,  in a deeper walk with my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and revived friendship with Christ and new friendships with women.

Reporting from Dallas…

Resting in Him, Trish