Everyday Beauty

My daughter Elizabeth has a blog called "Making Today Beautiful".  I have always loved the name of her blog, because it stirs my heart to do just that; make today beautiful.  There is enough ugliness in the world to dishearten all of us into the grave if we allow it.  All you need to do is turn on the news and  ugliness abounds. Times are indeed difficult.  But we can find  beauty every day,  just by slowing down, looking around and focusing on what we have right before us.  All that God gives us is beautiful and every good and perfect gift comes from above; from our Father of Lights; only sometimes we get too busy  or too stressed to see it.

Thus I find that it does me a world of good, to take a deep breath, slow down, cast off anything that makes me feel as if it is "too much", look around and drink in the goodness of God.  Some times our soul needs healing before we can enjoy His blessings. The more "whole" our souls become in Jesus, the more we can find delight in each tiny thing God has given us.  

When we first adopted our children from Russia, they were very wounded by the trauma of their earlier years.  It was difficult for them to enjoy anything, or see what abundance they had. They "wanted", they "needed", but they had no satisfaction.  We wanted to give them so much, but they could find no delight in any of it at first, because their souls were in great need of healing. God would show us specifics of what to pray for for them, and we prayed diligently for each of them, all the while trying to maintain a peaceful and loving momentum in our home (not always easy).  But after a while, they settled in; healing began, and joy began.  I remember praying that God would open their eyes to the beauty that surrounded them.  The mountains and the countryside were so beautiful, but they didn't notice any of it, until after a season; I remember Olga declaring how beautiful the mountains were, out of the blue one day; almost as if for the first time she was seeing her surroundings.

And so it can be for any of us in one degree or another, if we have wounds in our souls that need healing.  We miss the beauty of everyday blessings.  But it doesn't have to be that way.  We must let Him touch us and heal us.

Little pleasures, simple beauty, each are a gift.  Flowers bought, or cut from the yard, a comforting drink, a beautiful smell, a peaceful sound, a soft touch, a sharing of food, a kiss, a snuggle, a laugh, a walk, a visit, a loved one, a friend, a pet,  are all the sweet things of life, and all evidence of the goodness of God.  How wonderful to have eyes to see, and ears to hear, to be able to taste and feel and smell it all.

God gave us our five senses so that we might receive blessing through them.  Sight, smell, touch, taste and hearing; all amazing receptors.

There is beauty in each creation.  This morning I filled my heart up by feeding these guys.  I love that they all come over as soon as you start feeding them; even the fish come.

Who doesn't love to see a beautiful goose or a big fat turtle swimming in the pond.

I think even the snapping and soft shelled turtle are beautiful, and love how this one comes around for his portion.

This guy was just sitting to the side of my deck this morning, watching the geese, ducks, turtles and fish getting fed. 

Turtles in the pond….

Canadian geese….

Tomatoes on the vine…

Hibiscus in a Pot...

Orchids that I purchased for so little at the flea market….

a little dollhouse from a garage sale, for the grandkids…. so many simple pleasures.  What is on your list of blessings, and everyday beauty?  

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

 Ecc 3:11

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4:8


Two of my daughters have blogs that help you make today beautiful here are the links if you want to read them:
Elizabeth's blog: Making Today Beautiful
Marie's Blog: Baking Chic

Flowers and Vegetables and Me

This winter, I bought a bunch of pots, put them on my patio, filled them with dirt and planted flowers and vegetables in them. I don't have a big yard or any acreage for growing things, at the moment;  What I do have is a delightful little patio that looks out onto a delightful little pond. with two comfortable patio chairs, a patio table and all of my little pots planted.  They are a comfort to me in a new environment, with Steve coming and going so much while we are still in transition.  They are fresh and new and yet remind me of every day things that I am used to.  Each morning they give me pleasure as I notice their changes and look forward to the flowers and fruit yet to come.

I love seeing the seeds come up and grow.  Each one is a like a friend.  Every bit of growth I see them make is still always wonderful to me. I am getting ready to make salad of them, and I have actually pondered quite a bit about "what kind of salad I want".  This is usually a "no brainer", but because this is my own  little patio container garden,  (rather than grocery store vegetables), I am feeling a great sense of care about how I will enjoy.  I believe  that our Heavenly Father looks down on us the same way.  We are very special to Him, because we are His. He takes time to look upon us and see how we are. He has pleasure in seeing us grow and flourish even in small surroundings, and He has delight in the fruit we will produce, that fruit will be very special, because it is from His own garden. 

Sadly, we don't always remember that we are His own special planting in His own special garden. Sometimes in our every day living of life, we struggle with contentment in who we are and how we've been planted.  We look around and see the apparent success, togetherness, abilities and focus that other people seem to have, and think we are lagging behind, or not quite good enough. 

Each one of us is a very special creation of God, our purpose or calling may be simple or profound, but we each fill a place that no other person in the whole world can fill.  God has given each of us something unique that makes us who we are.  I have sometimes just read a little bit about a person's life, and gained a sweet measure of joy or encouragement just from knowing about them. 

Remember the movie "Its a wonderful Life"?  My favorite line from that movie is spoken by Clarence the Angel to George Bailey.  It is what he tells George after George has just received the answer to his  wish that He had never been born: “Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?”  

I have learned that finding contentment with myself is accomplished by trusting God that I am  "enough", because I am His creation.  It is not to say that I am complete without Him, only that He is good and He created me. It only takes one little tiny seed to grow a huge tree.  That tiny seed is enough.  If you plant a hundred tiny seeds very close together because you are trying to grow a huge tree, and you are afraid that one tiny seed isn't enough,  you will make a handicap for that little tree to grow big.  There will be no room for it.  Trust God, believe His love.  He creates what is good.  We will grow, and we will become what we ought, if we remain in Him, and abide in His love.  

Psalm 139:14

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

Asian Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing

I made an Asian Chicken Salad the other day when the girls came over.  Asian Salad with Peanut dressing is one of my favorite salads. 

 I have been growing some salad veggies along with my flowers in little pots on my back patio/deck, and they have been making me mull over ideas for salads.  I went to the farmers market on Saturday and got the rest of the veggies I needed.

I washed and dried my vegetables, then prepared the dressing.

Then I was ready to chop and layer the salad.

Chopped Cabbage

Chopped greens

Chopped red onion and sweet red pepper

Snow peas

Chopped chicken breast (pre-cooked)

Sauteed mushrooms

Mandarin organges

Chopped Cilantro

Chopped peanuts

Add Peanut Dressing

Toss together with dressing until all is covered. Serve and Enjoy.

Asian Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing

Ingredients:
3 cups chopped or shredded cabbage
3 cups chopped salad greens of choice
1/3 - 1/2  red pepper sliced thin (Julienned)
1/8 of a medium sized red onion sliced thin (Julienned)
1 handful of snow peas
2 chicken breasts, poached and sliced (I poached my in shallow liquid and added teriyaki).
5-6 mushrooms, lightly sautéed (I sautéed mine in peanut oil with a few drops of sesame oil added).
1 or 2 fresh Mandarin oranges divided into segments, or a lightly sliced orange with rind removed. Or 1 small can of Mandarin orange segments, drained.
2-3 sprigs fresh Cilantro chopped
1/3 cup chopped roasted peanuts
Peanut Dressing (see below)

Instructions:

1. Prepare ingredients by rinsing, drying and chopping vegetables. Poaching chicken breasts, and sautéing mushrooms
2. Layer Salad in order of listing
3. Drizzle with  dressing
4. Toss and Serve

Peanut Dressing

Ingredients:

2 cloves fresh garlic

1 Tablespoon chopped fresh onion

2 Tablespoons soy sauce

3 Tablespoons sesame oil

2 Tablespoons vinegar (rice vinegar, cider vinegar or wine vinegar are all good)

2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 teaspoon lime zest

3 Tablespoons coconut sugar, sucanat, honey or sweetener of choice

1/4 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup water

Instructions:

1. Place all ingredients into a blender.
2. Blend approximately one minute or until all is smooth.
3. Drizzle over salad.  
4. Enjoy!

 Enjoy~

Celebrate Springtime Strawberry Muffins

These Strawberry Muffins were the last of my March Muffin Madness posts…. that I didn't get posted in time.  The muffins were done, and the pictures were done, but I ran out of time to get them posted with the March Muffins.  So… I am posting now; for a "celebrate springtime" post. I had a little fun with these after they were made, because I had an abundance of fruit and flowers, and ended up playing with the wonderful colors and shapes to make a delicious picture of springtime bounty.   But for all their exotic presentation they are really just humble Strawberry muffins…yet so delicious.  In fact, they are one of my favorites.  

I used only half whole wheat flour in these, along with organic cane sugar, to produce a pretty, and light colored muffin.  I wanted a muffin that was light in color and texture for a special occasion such as Easter or Mother's Day.  For everyday healthier version, use all whole wheat flour, and perhaps Sucanat or a sweetener of choice.

Strawberry Muffins
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Sucanat or Organic Cane Sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup whole wheat flour (white whole wheat is my favorite)
1 cup unbleached all purpose flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup diced Strawberries

For topping:
1/3 cup melted butter
1/2 cup organic can sugar for dipping finished muffins in.

Instructions:

1. In a medium mixing bowl mix together eggs, sugar and softened butter until well blended.  
2. Add buttermilk and whisk or mix until well blended.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together dry ingredients.
4. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients.
5. Add Strawberries.
6. Mix all together; being sure to mix gently, and not over mix.
7. Spoon batter evenly a  twelve cup muffin tin.
8. Bake 15 - 20 minutes.
9. When cool enough to the touch, dip muffins in reserved  butter and sugar. 
10. Serve with butter and Jam.
11. Enjoy!! 

Happy Spring!