Season of Changes

For the record, I have yet to decorate for Fall.  I have to be in the mood, temperature wise that is.   It’s been so warm and humid here, just two days ago it felt like 100F degrees.  But I fret not,  crisp cool air is on its way this weekend so I can now pull out my pumpkin scented  candles and harvest decor.  This weekend’s low will be in the high 40’s (eeeeeek! I’m so excited) and guess what I’ll be doing as I listen to college football?

In just a few weeks, another event will take place.  The season will change to Autumn and we will witness the Almighty’s hand in action.  Vibrant oranges, reds, yellows, purples, and even browns will come to life on all the trees throughout the country.  One of my most favorite times of the year.

Have you ever wondered what leaves have to go through to finally be turned into a beautiful vibrant color?  As leaves having to go through the process of change and as we get older we realize, our lives also go through a process of change.  Which is  where I am in my life today.  Nothing confirmed it more than this morning’s devotional from Lisa Allen at www.proverbs31.org  ministry.  Today’s devotional is titled, “When Change is Hard”.  This last year and a half, it seemed that my life was starting to change and get very hard.  It started crumbling one event after another.  A new boss...again, the Derecho of 2012, a loved one’s marriage falling apart, broken relationships, my elderly mother-in-law who had been living with us was  admitted to the hospital and then to rehab center  for two months, where it seems that hubby and I spent every waking moment.  Six months later she’s back in the hospital and passed away soon after.  A few months later, because of some changes in my position at work, they wanted to go in a different direction, hence unemployment.   A few weeks later I’m hearing these words from my doctor, “anxiety/depression/stress, high cholesterol, diet and exercise”.

Gadzooks!

“God!  what is going on with me?! What am I doing wrong??”   Maybe I hadn’t been faithful enough to Him.  Maybe I haven’t been having my devotions, tithing or praying like I should.  Perhaps I didn’t confess this sin or that sin.  With so much going on, it took a toll on me and I started waking up every morning feeling blue, anxious and physically sick.  But then I think, when a leaf goes through it’s changes to become this majestic glorious color in the Fall, does it complain?  Does it fight and resist?  Does it sit back and have a “woe is me attitude”?   Amazingly, not!  I’m not familiar with the exact science a leaf goes through, but I do know that the leaf begins during the dormant frigid cold, then there’s  a small bud at the end that cold winter, it has to have plenty of rain showers in  the spring, plenty of heat from the scorching sun and plenty of thunderstorms and rain in the summer and finally, plenty of chilly nights awarded with glorious days in the fall.

In some ways, I’m glad I am not a leaf but perhaps it’s an example God uses to encourage us and to show us that our lives are similar.  We will have seasons of dormant cold winters, spring showers, scorching hot (and humid) summers, and then in fall something wonderful seems to happen.  With the chilly nights and long awaited beautiful days, this once green leaf turns into a vibrant purple-ee, yellow color that we humans can only sit back in awe or take out our iPhones and snap gazillion pictures of the same tree we’ve been taking pictures of for the past 20 years.

To quote Lisa Allen in today’s devotional, this is where I was encouraged:

Perhaps you are facing a season of change and would be encouraged by some "reframing" and a fresh perspective. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says God has made everything beautiful "for its own time." God has designed our lives into beautiful seasons, but there is a time limit on each one. Some seasons are wide-open doors for our passions and calling … and some seasons are closed doors when God asks us to grow spiritually, professionally, relationally, or maybe emotionally.

In this season of transition I am now starting to “get” the picture.  God has great plans for me.  How can I ever not trust Him when He has always provided for me and my family, overly and abundantly.  There’s no reason for Him to let me down now, that’s not the kind of God he is.  I have stopped asking why.  I have stopped moping around.  I don’t feel stressed or depressed.  I am almost a week into “healthy eating” and it really hasn’t been all that bad.

Only God knows though whether I am finally ready for those glorious colorful days.  I just have to continue to trust Him knowing that He’s working on me at this moment.  He hasn’t given up on me no matter how many times I asked why and I will then be rewarded whether it’s tomorrow, next month or next year.  All I know is that my new season of vibrant, glorious, rich colors is coming.

So yes, when it’s your turn to go through your season of change and when it hurts, trust Him.  He has some glorious, vibrant, colorful days ahead, waiting just for you. 

He has made everything beautiful in its time.  Ecclesiastes 3:11a

P.S.  I think I'll go pull out my Fall stuff and start decorating.  I'm all of the sudden in the mood!!

Savor your weekend friends!

 

Chicken Stew with Squash & Quinoa

Recipe by Cooking Pinterest

1 1/2 lb. butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2" pieces (I used an acorn squash)
3 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 lbs. chicken thighs (I used two boneless chicken breasts)
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 med. yellow onion, finely chopped
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano (I used 1 tsp. fresh minced)
1  14oz. can petite diced tomatoes
2/3 cup uncooked quinoa
3/4 cup pitted and quartered kalamata olives (I did not have these)
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
1/4 cup fresh flat leaf parsley, minced

In a medium saucepan, steam the squash for about 10 minutes (I just boiled it on low and watched it very close so it wouldn't burn) just until barely tender.  Remove half of the squash, set aside.  Continue to steam the squash left in the saucepan until very tender, about 4 more minutes.

After the squash in the saucepan is very tender, remove from heat and mash with a fork.

In a large pot, simmer the broth then add the chicken.  Cook until done, about 20 minutes if using chicken breasts.

Remove broth from pot and place in a bowl.  Set the chicken aside to cool

In the same large pot, heat olive oil on medium heat.  Add onions until they are browned, about 8-10 minutes.

To the onions, add the salt, minced garlic, and oregano and stir for one minute.  Add tomatoes and squash pieces and mashed squash.  Stir completely.

Add the reserved broth

Stir in the quinoa.  Bring to a simmer, cover and cook until the quinoa is translucent

Shred the chicken with your fingers or a fork

Add the shredded chicken, olives and pepper into the stew and simmer, uncovered, to heat thoroughly, for about 5 minutes.  Stir in parsley.

Pour in bowls and serve.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this stew but when I found it on Pinterest, it intrigued me.  I was looking for a chicken recipe that was low carb and fortunately I had most of the ingredients on the list.

My first bite was full of flavor, I could taste everything in one mouthful, from the garlic, tomatoes, quinoa and chicken broth.  My meat and potatoes man even thought it was delicious.  

I was thrilled to use the Organic Red Quinoa I found on my recent trip to Northern Michigan, in a small Amish store.  I would be really curious how the olives fit in this recipe, I must use them next time I make this recipe.  I will also have to use Butternut Squash, but I only had an Acorn Squash.  I'm sure it will taste a lot better.  I really didn't like the Parsley and won't add it next time.

A lovely recipe find, you must try!

Sweet Potato Fries

Preheat oven to 450F degrees

Take four sweet potatoes

Peel off the skins

Cut and slice the potato into uniform pieces

Pour the slices in a large bowl and add about 2 tbsps olive oil and combine

then add the spices, salt and pepper and combine once again

Place on a wire rack over a cookie sheet.  Try not to crowd to prevent the fries from steaming instead of coming out crunchy.  As you can see mine were a bit crowded as we don't mind our soft and tender.  Bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes, flipping them once halfway through.

These were worth making just because of the aroma coming from the kitchen.  It smelled sooo good.

This is my first attempt at making Sweet Potato Fries.  Hubby has ordered them several time when we go out to eat so I finally decided to make our own since he bought a whole batch from Sam's Club.

I'm not crazy about sweet potatoes but these ended up being really tasty much to my surprise.  Tasted like a spicy french fry with a tad of sweetness.  Not bad!!

Have a great weekend and savor every moment!

Peach Crisp

Recipe by Anne Burrell

Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.

For the filling:

Toss the peaches in a large bowl with the zest and lemon juice.

Add the rest of the filling ingredients

and stir to combine

Divide the filling evenly between the ramekins.  In my case I had to use three medium sized individual serving baking dishes.

FOR THE TOPPING:

Combine all the ingredients in a food processor except the water.  Pulse until combined.  Add water 1 tablespoon at a time . . .

until mixture is crumbly.

Top each ramekin (or baking dishes) with the topping.  Be sure to loosely sprinkle the topping and do not pack down.

Place the ramekins (or bowls) on a sheet tray and bake in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes (I had to bake them for 35 minutes because I used three bigger baking dishes)

or bake until brown and bubbly. Set aside to cool or serve with ice-cream.

I love my sister.  I miss my sister.  She's hundred of miles away and I know she would have enjoyed this dessert.  I will think of her with each bite.

Hubby and I enjoyed and shared one of these dishes.  Every flavor jumped out like the peaches, tart lemon, the brown sugar, the crunchy almonds and oats.  What a delicious way to celebrate the almost end of summer.  I'm so done with summer and can't wait until it's gone!

Have a great week!

Land Beneath the Trees

What a wonderful vacation we had to Northern Michigan and South Bend, Indiana.  Many, many hours spent in the car.  We are refreshed and oh so blessed to have had the opportunity to go visit my sister and her family, my ancestral roots where I was born and then to knock off my bucket list a long time dream of touring the Notre Dame Football Stadium.

My siblings and I as well as our children belong to a Native American Indian tribe in Northern Michigan.  Hubby and I stayed at the resort belonging to our tribe and what a blessing it was.  The facilities were top notch although our only complaint was that since it's connected to the casino, cigarette smoke infiltrated the first floor resort section, blechhh!

Picture on the right in the above collage picture is from the resort courtyard.  Beautiful gardens and serene atmosphere. 

Top right picture is the courtyard once again where I spent time having my devotions.

Bottom right is a picture of my sister and I at a popular bistro/restaurant in Interlochen, MI.  Visit their website here at www.budsisback.com.  It's was a really cute fun place to stop for a potty break, coffee and gift-souvenir shopping on our way to Mackinaw, MI.

We took a tour of the historical, Victorian town of Manistee, MI.  This is the area where our Native American Indian tribe settled back in the 1800's.

Left picture is of me in the trolley just before our tour around Manistee.  I had that song in my head the whole time from Judy Garland in Easter Parade - "Clang, clang, clang goes the trolley".....

Top right picture is of my sister's home on a modern day Native American Indian reservation.  She has it decorated so clean and so cute and so homey :)

Bottom right picture is of a nearby lake.  Crystal blue fresh water, with a flock of swans.  That's right, swans.  Not geese, not ducks but swans :)

I had my hubby take a pic of me on our last day at the resort by the indoor water garden.  Such a beautiful place.

Left picture is of my hubby and I being silly as we wait for the ferry to take us across the bay to Mackinac Island, MI.  

Top right picture of "BUDS" in Interlochen, MI.  

Bottom right is my sister, myself and my hubby.  My sister was being silly and making me laugh, poor hubby just had to bear with us "giggly school girls".

Here we are in Mackinac Island.  

Picture on the left is of my hubby being silly.  He took that Liberty flag everywhere we went.

Top right pic is one of many pictures I took of the front lawn floral gardens. These people must be able to have a green thumb in order to have a home here on the island.  These gardens were heavenly!

Bottom right picture is of the Grand Hotel, the closest we got to it from our horse wagon.  

If you want to learn more about Mackinac Island, visit a bloggie friend of mine, Sweet Pea at:  http://www.virginiasweetpea.com/2013/07/mackinac-island-vacation-part-one.html

She did a fantastic job with her post on Mackinac Island.  Lots of pictures and stories, you'll love it!

A long time dream of mine has been to visit Notre Dame, preferably on a gameday but I am not complaining.  Since we were kinda sorta in the vicinity of South Bend, Indiana home of the Fighting Irish, hubby decided to surprise me and made plans for us to take a guided tour of the ND Football Stadium on our way back home.

Left picture is my hubby walking down through THEE tunnel.

Top right is the Notre Dame football locker room.

Bottom picture is one of the gates around the stadium with a football design in it.  Can you see it?

Lake Michigan - just a couple miles from my sisters home.

Some of you may know, but I am not a "beach" person. The  last place I ever want to go on vacation is to a beach. We went to Myrtle Beach one summer and it left much to be desired. Too touristy, dirty and way too hot and muggy for me. Give me the mountains, cabins, lakes anytime was my motto. Coming up to Michigan was a dream come true. It gave me my mountains, cabin living and lakes but it also opened my eyes to a different kind of beach. The beaches up in Michigan are clean, sugar sand (meaning it's so fine like sugar) and the water is fresh, not salty, a well kept secret off the shore of Lake Michigan. I fell in love with it immediately. I am only converted to these kind of beaches.

and finally, the last few pics of the end of our tour at Notre Dame.

Left picture is of me touching the sign all the football players touch just before they head out through THEE  tunnel and out to the stadium

Top right is of hubby and I outside THEE tunnel

Bottom right is a picture of me with the Knute Rockne statue, just outside the stadium.  There's a gate and statue dedicated to each head football coach who won a national title while at ND. I had to take a pic of myself with Knute Rockne, it feeds my passion for vintage football.

As many places we visited and enjoyed every minute the best memories I will cherish forever will be spending time with my sister and her family.  It was so hard leaving her, we don't see each other often enough and we both needed this mini reunion in many ways.  I am so proud of her and I want to give her a BIG SALUTE.  She is studying for her Master's in Social Work, she's on one of the committees for our tribe and doing some good things up there.  I'm so proud of you SIS!!!

Life has brought many, many changes these past two years in my life.  Some I've welcomed and some not.  I've come to depend and rely on my only source of encouragement, comfort and strength and that would be my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  He has blessed my life and my family in so many ways. He is also showing me how much I need to depend on Him to make it through these trying times.  His love and care for me never fails.  I visit daily and do my devotions with the Proverbs 31 website led my Lisas Tyrkeurst at  www.proverbs31.org.  A great source of encouragement for me these past few years.  

Visiting my sister and learning so much about our Native American ancestors has refreshed my purpose in life.  I'm learning they were a tenacious people and never ever gave up in wanting to repossess the land they lost to the Americans and because of them we are enjoying the fruits of their labor.  I hope we do them proud!

"Naaminitigong ndojeb"

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"I am from the land beneath the trees"

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The Tablescaper: Oh, the Places I've Been