Invest and Invite

What are you doing to invest in the lives of your friends/family/co-workers? I am really good as at investing in people. I listen to their needs and encourage and support them. I know their likes and dislikes. I give advice or guidance when asked. I like to buy them out-of-the-blue-thinking-of-you gifts. But so often I fail at the second part of the mission--inviting.

It is so easy to simply invest in the "right this moment"point of someone's life, but what about their eternal moment. Am I so invested I know, or at least have a good idea, that this person has made a decision about their eternal life? Not so much. I am trying to better with this. I live my life as a follower of Christ, and I know people see that. However, I want to see them living as a Christ follower as well. I want them to experience the same peace and hope and forgiveness and strength. I just need to take more time focusing on their eternity as well as their "right this moment" need.

Michael Jackson

I would just like to mark this day by saying this is the first legend in my generation to pass away. Michael Jackson was a music great and he will be deeply missed. I am saddened this day and just stunned.

Three Fishermen

This is one my favorite pictures I've taken. I took it last September while on vacation at the beach. I love the shadows, the lighting, the ocean and island in the distance. I love it when you are just snapping away with your camera and bam! you get this perfect shot. Once I thought about submitting it to the art contest at the state fair, but I never did. Maybe this year??

Double Chocolate Torte

I have made this torte before but I made some changes to the recipe so I thought I would post "my" recipe. Also I got to use fresh mint from the garden to garnish--yeah!

Double Chocolate Torte (serves 12)

Cake:

1 1/2 cups choclolate chips (semisweet or dark chocolate)

1 cup salted butter (2 sticks, use butter not margarine)

1/2 cup sugar

5 large eggs

1 tbsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup flour

Heat oven to 325* and butter a 10" springfrom pan. Melt chocolate and butter in microwave for 20 seconds at a time, stirring after each time. Allow chocolate to cool to room tempature. When cooled, whisk in sugar and add eggs one at a time, whisking in each egg thoroughly. Mix in vanilla and flour. Bake about 35 mins. (Cake will "fall" as it cools.) Once cake is cooled to room tempature top with chocolate mousse. Refridgerate overnight.

Mousse:

1 package silken tofu, drained (DO NOT use soft tofu. It makes for an odd consistency.)

1 1/4 cup chocolate chips (semisweet or dark chocolate)

2-3 tbsp water

2 tbsp syrup

1 tbsp honey

1 tsp vanilla

Bring tofu to room tempature. Place tofu in food processor and smooth completely. Melt chips and water in microwave in 20 second increments, stirring after each time. When completely melted, pour into food prcessor. Add syrup, honey and vanilla then process until combined. Spread evenly on cake and refrigerate overnight.

Topping: (make no more than 1-2 hours before serving)

1/2 pint heavy whipping cream

3 tbsp powdered sugar

Chill bowl in freezer for 20-30 mins. Pour in whipping cream and powdered sugar into chilled bowl and whip with mixer on high. Whip about 5 mins and when cream has thickened, spread evenly over mousse and top with fresh fruit, if desired. Enjoy!

and all hell breaks loose

So we went to the beach two weeks ago and had a wonderful relaxing time. And that was the end of that. Since we've been back home it has been go, go, go and I am just not used to this type of schedule. There are tons of things going on at the church so I am constantly busy whereas I used to work a little, chat some, do a little more work, chat more and then time to leave. I am taking on more responsiblities with our small groups, Next Steps (deals with first time guests, new believers, and care ministry), and Block Party. I really like volunteering there. It is a great environment to be, but lately, I am tired when I leave.

Also babysitting is proving to be alot more challenging. This Monday I kept Ethan and his sister Elhannah (7yr old). They are wonderful kids--self-sufficient, quiet, well behaved, but it was chaos Monday. Elhannah was watching a movie while I fixed lunch, and when I returned upstairs she said she had a headache. I told her to lie down and went to call her dad. Well, while I was calling him she came downstairs and told me her head was really pounding and started crying and rolling around the bed moaning. Couldn't reach her dad or her mom or my mom or the parents again or my dad the first time, then I finally reached my dad the second time I called him and asked what to do. He said give her some baby Tylenol (all I had in the diaper bag), but she refused to take anything--even if I mixed it in some juice. Finally, after about 15 mins of crying and moaning, her dad calls me back and I tell him whats going on and he says he'll be there soon. In the meantime, Elhannah leaves the room and is in the bathroom gagging and heaving. By this time, Ethan is getting cranky because he's hungry and sleepy. It was madness and I thought I might have to take Elhannah to Urgent Care! Luckily her dad was there about 15 mins later and while we are outside she vomits in the yard. It was disgusting! Also the dad calls me later and tells me she has Strep as well. Fun. She is doing better now, but her dad said she was pretty sick Tuesday and Wednesday.

Before Elhannah's incident though, we got locked out the house (we were house sitting for friend) at 2am Sunday morning. It is a long story so check it out on Nick's blog. I spent all day cleaning Cynthia's house and was at church yesterday and today. I just feel exhausted and the week isn't over yet. We are going a party Saturday, taking Nick's dad to lunch Sunday, and going to baseball game Sunday night. Then babysitting, volunteering and weekend plans begin all over again. It's going to be like this through mid-July. I guess it is good; it will help time seem to go by faster and be even closer to leaving.

On a lighter note, I am getting a new hairstyle soon. Kind of a modified Victoria Beckham bob. I am hoping when the back grows out it will grow more even with the front. I have hair angel and she is doing a great job helping me look good while growing my hair out again. I like my short hair but it is kind of a pain to keep up.

Anyways, I had a new recipe idea for Buffalo Fried Wontons. I think I am going to try it next week so I'll report back soon. I really like to cook, but most stuff I make is a modified version of some else's recipe. I am excited to create my own. I REALLY hope it turns out well.

Well, off to watch my favorite show...So You Think You Can Dance. Yeah!!

How does my garden grow?

Very well indeed. Nothing else has died since I replanted, and everything is taking off and growing so fast. Hopefully we will have more "fruit" soon.

This one of our watermelon plants. We have four (three doing really well) and looking great. The vines can get kind of crazy so hopefully they won't interfere with the squash and zucchini plant close by (which also grows crazily).

This is my first plant to actually bear fruit. It is one of my four hot banana peppers. I think they need to be about 4-5" long and 1-2" wide before picking so I have a bit to before harvesting, but as soon as I do I'll post my recipe for it.

This is a picture of one zucchini and one tomato plant. They are growing so fast. I need to tie up my tomato plants soon but I am trying to wait as long as possible so I don't have to retie later.

These last two pitures are my herbs. the cilantro didn't make it--not sure why but oh well. I do have some great spearmint (first pic) and chives and curly parsley. I made a fabulous melted herb butter tonight using my chives and parsley. Anyways, I love my garden; it is flourishing and looks better than I ever thought it could!!

Surf's Up (Video)

This the video I made featuring the rolling surf of Oak Island, NC.  I think it turned out pretty great.  Hope you enjoy it.

Surf's up

Nick and I had a great time at the beach this past weekend.  Probably, the best trip we have taken to the beach.  The weather was perfect...a little overcast but cooler tempratures and ocean breezes kept us feeling wonderful.  The ocean waves rolled in perfectly.  Pelicans and seagulls dove in catching fish like crazy.  Not really any kids, only the locals, so it was so peaceful.

This is one of my favorite pictures from the weekend.  It's all the shells we collected, but I thought it was an interesting shot from the "wrong" side of the shell.    We both are trying to get better at our photography.  We took some action shots of waves, but I want to try making a "movie" of the pictures first.  If it works out I'll post here.

Here we are relaxing after a day of frolicking on the beach.  Happy as clams.  We enjoyed ourselves immensely and can't wait to go back again. 

Busy busy busy

This is a wonderful dessert I made for dinner Monday night.  We had Nick's grand- parents over for dinner.  I fixed a great meal of zesty pot roast, potatoes, carrots and gravy.  The secret was adding salsa while cooking the roast.  For the dessert, I made a double chocolate torte (recipe here).  It was delicious, probably the best dessert I had ever made.  My only suggestion would be to use a different mousse recipe; the one given was a little time consuming and difficult.  Everyone had a great time and really enjoyed everything.  

This is the little boy I am keeping.  He is great!!  The other day he was fussy and that was just a little whining before he took a nap.  I mean it just doesn't get better.  He is absolutely wonderful. He is exhausting though.  I mean even though he is great, he is all over the place and wanting to explore everything.  Also, he wants to walk everywhere instead of crawling, but he has to hpld onto my hands.  I love keeping him though.  I am so happy to help his parents out.  I really think being here will help in his development.  We take walks, explore the outdoors (flowers, leaves, rocks), and learn about dogs, animals, birds, colors, and numbers.

Tomorrow my dad is coming through town.  He is taking me to lunch which is fabulous.  I have come a long way in my relationship with my dad--just in the last year and a half.  It is still really weird getting together with him, but we are working on it.  Also I am happy he is coming through town because that means he has work (he hasn't worked in about 8 months).  Thank God!

Also my sister got a new used car.  Funny thing is it is the same color, year, and make as my car. She has to replace the windshield and paint it, but it was steal of a deal--$350.  I am so happy for her.  Her and Chris have grown so much in their faith and relationship just in the last six months.  I can't believe how great they are doing, but it is a great testimony to the Lord's faithfulness and his forgiveness.