Reminded

The gray clouds hung low with the promise of yet another dreary day. Her head ached and she was as weary as the weather. She wondered how she was supposed to trudge through the rainy, foggy morning to that classroom with a smile. Sometimes, it felt so futile. So empty. To extend grace, compassion to these. When she had rather stay hidden. What good could she be today?A forced smile, one deep breath, the door slings open and a new day begins.
And, right away, a little brown hand grips hers, looks up with adoring eyes and says, "I missed you."
Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.
And, I am reminded...His glory shines the greatest through the weakest of vessels.

Murmuring thanks...

Joy lies in the habit of murmuring thanks to God for the smallest of graces. I falter, but this is the habit to wear for a lifetime. -Ann Voskamp

Temptation

I love apples. I really can relate to Adam's fellow garden dweller, Eve, ya know, the one in the Bible? The one who decided to taste the forbidden fruit. Remember her? I always seem to relate to the villain. But, that's for another day.

OK, so over the weekend I had a bag of apples looking all lonely and asking for greater purpose. I answered the call and decided to take this once forbidden fruit to another level.

Can you say Praline Apple Muffins?
Just so you know, anything with the word "Praline" makes my ears perk up. And my mouth water. And baked apples smell like a home should smell in the Fall. So there wasn't much convincing to be done to get me to ask my husband to go to the store to get the only missing ingredient I needed to make these little marvels.Let me just say right now, they are definitely worth the 20 minute prep time, 15 minute bake time, and the minor burn on my wrist. Word of Advice: Pot holders are better than dish rags for removing a hot muffin tin from the oven. Oh, and the Mister said it was worth the trip to the grocery store for Sour Cream...even though I found a container after I already sent him. Lord, I love that man.
If you are human breathing, you will agree these muffins are sinfully delicious. These muffins are great for breakfast. These muffins are great for lunch. These muffins are great for your coworkers breakfast and lunch. At least that's what they said today.

Here's the recipe. Now, go on, give into the temptation. This is one sin, you won't regret.

*Praline Apple Muffins

1 1/2 cups chopped pecans, divided
1 (8 oz) container sour cream
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups finely chopped, peeled Granny Smith apples (about 3/4 lb)
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake 1/2 cup pecans in a shallow pan 6-8 minutes or until toasted.

2. Beat sour cream and next 3 ingredients at low speed with electric mixer until blended.

3. Stir together flour and next 3 ingredients. Add to sour cream mixture, beating just until blended. Stir in apples and 1/2 cup toasted pecans. Spoon batter into well-grease muffin tin. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup chopped pecans.

4. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean.

5. Cool on wire rack 10 minutes.

6. Bring butter and brown sugar to boil in 1-qt heavy saucepan over medium heat; stirring constantly; boil 1 minute. Remove from heat, and spoon over top of muffins.

7. Enjoy.

*This recipe was adapted from recipe in September 2009 issue of Southern Living.

All I want is....

Kindness

Chew On This

Wear It Proud!

Yes, that's him. William Griffis Morgan. Second born son from my first husband. HA!

I recently ordered some photo buttons from a site that offered pictures of Airmen/women at basic training. Apparently the company's sales are so good they don't even have to actually post the proofs. You just blindly enter your loved one's name and Flight number and 10 days later (or less) a package arrives and you pray the contents are photographs of that special one. 

Suckers, we Moms are. 

Well, my package came yesterday.

And what a sight for sore eyes!

I would recognize that face anywhere. My little boy.

OK...he's 21, but bear with me here.

You would have thought I'd won the Lottery. Seriously. I tore into that package and proudly pinned that button on and have worn it since.

I even wore the button to school today and bragged at every opportunity. 

One former Marine/teacher asked me if I was I going to wear it to his graduation, insinuating that I would embarrass him. 

I know. Can you believe it?

Would I wear it to his graduation?

I answered, "Is the Pope Catholic?" "Are cheetos fattening?"  "Does your skull have a brain?"

He may be a tough old Marine, but apparently he hasn't ever been a MOM!

After all, we are talking about the MOM that went into premature labor with that boy...labor that lasted  no less that10 hours...while battling a 103 degree temp! 

Who's tough now, Mr. Marine?

I kid. Sort of.

But really, I can't believe it's almost time to pack up and fly out to San Antonio for Griff's graduation from Air Force Basic Training. 

So very proud of my boy!

Gotta go. Trying to figure out how to pack this 8 x 4 banner with Griff's name on it.

Gratitude

Gratitude is simply being, breathing in and allowing the joys of the day to wash over you.

The Gratitude List continues...

691. Hungry guests
692. Loving Parents
693. Pudding in parfait glasses
694. Walking on a Winter day
695. A smile
696. Cheerios

My Own Little World

It's been a while. But, I am back. It's a new year. Whether 2010 was good or bad for you, a new beginning is here. A clean slate. 

Many are promising themselves to lose weight, stop smoking, exercise more, etc. Me? I really have no profound resolutions, just really long to find peace.

 I recently sat down to write a letter (not on the computer, but with a real piece of paper and pen) and found that it was almost impossible to leave out the word "I" and all those other personal pronouns.

Funny, that makes me think of a country song my kids used to irritate me with. 

I wanna talk about meeeiiiieeee! 

They knew my least favorite music was country and my least favorite musician EVER was Toby Keith. Sorry if that insults anyone. But those kids of mine, especially the boys received so much joy from breaking out in that song or any of his other hits(?) Aaaaahhhhhhhhhh! Makes my skin crawl right now thinking about his voice!

Back to what I was saying ...

I long for peace. One way to begin this search is to first get out of my world, my life, my problems. Connect with others. To do that, I will have to take my eyes off myself and my little world. Become more self-less.

Mother Teresa once said, "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other." 

Where this admission, this simple resolution will lead me I'm not sure, but I am willing to take this path.

Happy New Year.

Build Me A Son

Our son, Griff left for Air Force Basic training this afternoon. Yes, our hearts are swollen with pride and my eyes are swollen with tears as we witness this boy of ours once again, make us proud. He is such a fine man!


He came into the world determined and strong, literally fighting for every breath the first month of his life. He has always seemed to make the most of every situation, rising to the occasion. His sensitivity, compassion, wit, intelligence, creativity, and humor are just some of his great qualities. Love that boy!


Definitely not the scrap-booking type, I surprised myself and pulled off a collection of personal words/notes from friends and family along with quotes and scriptures and compiled them into a handmade patriotic-themed scrapbook. OK, I admit daughter helped a  little lot! Thanks, SJ!


For the first page of the scrapbook, I printed out this favorite poem of mine by  General Douglas A. MacArthur. I remember the first time I discovered these words. I was only twenty-one years old, not even a mother yet...the same age Griff is as he leaves for service to his country today. Somehow I tucked the poem away in my collection of quotes and poems and remembered it this week. As you read it, remember all the dedicated men and women who are serving our great country today. May God bless them and God bless the U. S. A.

Build me a son, O Lord,
who will be strong enough to know when he is weak,
and brave enough to face him self when he is afraid;
one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat,
and humble and gentle in victory.

Build me a son whose wishbone will not be
where his backbone should be;
a son who will know Thee- and that
to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.

Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort,
but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge.
Here, let him learn to stand up in the storm;
here, let him team compassion for those who fall.

Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goals will be high;
a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men;
one who will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep;
one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.

And after all these things are his,
add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor,
so that he may always be serious,
yet never take himself too seriously.

Give him humility, so that he may always remember
the simplicity of true greatness,
the open mind of true wisdom,
the meekness of true strength.

Then I, his father, will dare to whisper,
"I have not lived in vain."

The Mystery

Always beyond the gates.

Outside the city.

To the desert. The wilderness.

Beyond the limits of my control.

For that which I seek does not dwell

in temples of stone made with hands,

or sanctuaries of words made with pen or mouth.

Just because I write a fence for the Mystery

doesn’t mean I’ve captured it,

for my fences are always full of holes,

and the Mystery has already moved

while I turned to construct the compound.

The Mystery is wild and will not be owned,

but has condescended to freely dwell

in the smallest of vessels.

I dove into a cup and found

an ocean without shores.

-David Hayward

Fall

Atlanta Botanical Gardens tree photography - courtesy of Savannah-Jane

Awakening to sunlight

Streaming through the window

Leaves fluttering, falling from the birches.

Trees undressing, disrobing,

Becoming naked and bare.

This is Fall.

And I fall.
Into His arms.

Helpless.
Realizing His presence.
Warming my face.

And grace falls, cascading like the leaves.

Taking off, stripping me of my shame, my guilt.

gina 2010

"Don't resist helplessness—

it's the power of your prayer life."

-Bill Thrasher

Hmmm...

I can’t stand your religious meetings. I’m fed up with your conferences and conventions. I want nothing to do with your religion projects, your pretentious slogans and goals. I’m sick of your fund-raising schemes, your public relations and image making. I’ve had all I can take of your noisy ego-music. When was the last time you sang to me? Do you know what I want? I want justice—oceans of it. I want fairness—rivers of it. That’s what I want. That’s all I want.”
[Amos 5:21-24 - The Message]

Pumpkin Bread Recipe

This is the basic Pumpkin Bread recipe I used for the Pumpkin Muffins today. Note that I glazed the muffins with a delicious spur of the moment topping that made me fall to my knees and ask for forgiveness. Seriously.

1 cup sugar
1.2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup pumpkin
1.2 cup corn oil
2 eggs
2 cups sifted all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1.2 tsp salt
1/2 nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ginger
1/2 cup pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine sugars, pumpkin, oil, and eggs in bowl; mix well. Add sifted ingredients; mix well. Stir in pecans. Pour into well-oiled 5x9 inch loaf pan. Bake until loaf tests done, Remove to wire rack and cool. 

"Fall to Your Knees and Ask for Forgiveness" Glaze topping:
Stir  ingredients together on low heat til butter melts. Pour mixture on top of muffins and then sprinkle with chopped pecans. YUM!

8 oz. evaporated milk
1 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp. butter... the real stuff

Home....a dearer spot than all the rest

Last weekend daughter and oldest son came home.  A weekend spent at home. Ahhh...Family, food, laughter, friends, and dirty clothes filled the house. Really miss those kiddos! Yep, I know, I need to get a grip. They are grown now. And, good news...they know how to wash clothes.

But occasionally, you know, they need to think of home. Be reminded of their Mom, who birthed them without pain medication, lovingly nursed them, changed their diapers, stayed up all night when they were sick, drove them 10,000 miles weekly to and from school, dance, soccer, fed them at least one home-cooked meal a week,washed at least 5 loads of clothes daily, and, of course raised them to be the fine young adults they are today. With a little help from the Mister. Just Kidding. He helped a lot. He always did the dishes. Really.

Anyway, I decided to skip church today. I baked pumpkin muffins and glazed them with melted butter, milk and brown sugar. (Lord, forgive me)

Well after a little coaxing, the Mister and Max (the last four-legged child at home) volunteered to taste them and give their unbiased opinion. After sharing two muffins and chasing them with cold milk, they reached their decision.

On a scale of 1 to 10 they were ranked an 11. 

Because these muffins have been officially tasted-tested and approved by a panel of unbiased consumers, and the fact that I am the best mother my children will ever have, I decided to send a little bit of lovin from the oven to those who now do their own laundry.

Because home is where their heart is. And where they can get their favorite meals, ignore dishes in the sink, and be served in (clean) underwear.

“Home, the spot of earth supremely blest, A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest.”

-Robert Montgomery

Time

Welcome October

  

O hushed October morning mild,

Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;

Tomorrow's wind, if it be wild,

Should waste them all.

The crows above the forest call;

Tomorrow they may form and go.

O hushed October morning mild,

Begin the hours of this day slow.

Make the day seem to us less brief.

Hearts not averse to being beguiled,

Beguile us in the way you know.

Release one leaf at break of day;

At noon release another leaf;

One from our trees, one far away.

Retard the sun with gentle mist;

Enchant the land with amethyst.

Slow, slow!

For the grapes' sake, if they were all,

Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,

Whose clustered fruit must else be lost--

For the grapes' sake along the wall.

 

-Robert Frost

The same leaves ...

The same leaves over and over again!

They fall from giving shade above

To make one texture of faded brown

And fit the earth like a leather glove.

Before the leaves can mount again

 To fill the trees with another shade,

They must go down past things coming up.

They must go down into the dark decayed.

They must be pierced by flowers and put

 Beneath the feet of dancing flowers.

However it is in some other world

 I know that this is way in ours.

-Robert Frost

Love never fails.

Their smooth, fresh faces, mask the hidden, dark scars, and the broken places. They come each day. Into my life. From different homes. With different stories.

How to begin? How to become the teacher they need?

Study every standard, memorize every objective, each essential question?

Differentiation?

Utilize flex-grouping?

Create lessons plan?

Accomodate for their needs?

Become proficient in technology?

Yes, all these are important components, but I must not forget the most basic and neccessary need of these I spend my days with now.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails....And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (NIV)

My Little Girl

After an incredibly long week at school, my reward was walking in the door Friday afternoon and seeing her beautiful self. Those green eyes, that dark hair, and that sparkling smile. I took her face in my hands, kissed her on her cheek, and then the tears erupted. My daughter. Oh how I missed her. Only two weeks, but two weeks too long.

This weekend was spent chatting, catching up, shopping, laughing, and cooking together. It went by too fast for me. She packed up this afternoon and went back to school. And more tears fell. From my eyes and hers.
How precious time spent with her is to this Mom.
How proud I am of her. My little girl,

Gotta hold on easy as I let you go

Gonna tell you how much I love you

Though you think you already know

I remember I thought you looked like an angel wrapped in pink so soft and warm

You've had me wrapped around your finger since the day you were born

You beautiful baby from the outside in

Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again

Go on, take on this whole world

But to me you know you'll always be, my little girl

When you were in trouble that crooked little smile could melt my heart of stone

Now look at you, I've turned around and you've almost grown

Sometimes you're asleep I whisper "I Love You" in the moonlight at your door

As I walk away, I hear you say, "Mom, I Love You More"

Your beautiful baby from the outside in

Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again

Go on, take on this whole world

But to me you know you'll always be, my little girl

Someday, some boy will come and ask me for your hand

But I won't say "yes" to him unless I know, he's the half

That makes you whole, he has a poet's soul, and the heart of a man's man

I know he'll say that he's in love

But between you and me

He won't be good enough

Your beautiful baby from the outside in

Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again

Go on, take on this whole world

But to me you know you'll always be, my little girl

(Tim McGraw)