Invitation to the Thirsty

Have you ever been really, really thirsty?
I mean like, ‘I’m going to die if I don’t get some water in my cotton dry mouth in the next 5 seconds,’ thirsty?

Some of you may be thinking, ‘yea, I’ve needed a drink before.  Last Thursday I could really use a margarita.’

This is not the thirst I’m talking about.  I’m talking about running a marathon without drinking any water for 2 days before and all throughout the race.  So thirsty it’s like torture.

I have been almost that thirsty before.  It happened on a hot afternoon in Las Vegas this summer.  I didn’t think much of it at the time, but man it makes for a great illustration now.  I wasn't even working out or anything, it was just so dry and my lips wanted nothing more than water, sweet, clear, refreshing water.

Tonight the chapter I found to read in my Bible was entitled Invitation to the Thirsty.  The title alone got me thinking about the concept of being thirsty.  This passage is an invitation for all who are thirsty to come and drink even if they have no money to pay for their drink.  This could be taken literally as an example of service we can have to other, or it can be taken as a metaphor for drinking in the person of Christ free of charge.  Both- good points.

I was thinking more along the lines of thirsting after Jesus when the realization of the severity of the word thirst hit me.  I’ve heard several times about hungering after Jesus and to be honest I’m not sure many of us (especially me) can really relate to being really, really hungry.  But I’ve been really, really thirsty before.  I’ve been so thirsty that all I can think about, all I can talk about and all of my energies are spent on finding water.

Is that the kind of pursuit Christ is asking for from us?

Not to much later, in that same chapter of Isaiah (chap 55-by the way) it says, “…it will not return to me empty...”  Is that referring to the drink that is being offered?  I think it just might.  When we are thirsty and have nothing to give in exchange for a drink, a drink is offered to us and to go one step further, that drink does exactly what it sets out to accomplish, it does not return empty-it quenches whatever thirst we might have.

This seemingly insignificant illustration of being thirsty accomplishes feats too big for me to even imagine, if only we would quench our thirst.

Saturday Morning Cartoons

Saturday morning cartoons.  You know that it is during the school year when sleeping in is still up early enough to catch the Saturday morning cartoons.  This morning my favorite was The Magic School Bus. :)

Yup, school.  It has begun.  And can I just say, Ah-mazingly.  I’m not sure if it’s just the second year teacher in me or some combination of my new experiences but the way this year has started is a breath of fresh air.  I’m so happy.

In a lot of ways I’ve dreaded the summer ending and I’ve blogged about my summer so I’m sure you all can understand why.  However, the routine is much welcomed and being back in the classroom just feel so right.  Sigh.  I can’t even explain it, I’m sure all you teachers out there can relate.

On top of school getting off on a great foot.  I’ve been surrounded by some pretty great people.  Someone who I would consider very wise once told me that it’s all about relationships.  I believe him.  I’ve come to discover that life is so much sweeter when you have people to share it with and even more sweet when you build deep, vulnerable, reverberating relationships with those people.

Not only does it make life much sweeter, but it also makes life a little easier when the tough stuff is happening.

I have a really close friend who is going through some ‘tough stuff’ now and I got a chance to talk with her a little this week.  Since we talked she has been on my heart.  I hate seeing her hurting and not being herself.  For me, the hardest thing in the whole world is to see hurt and not be able to fix it.  That is something that is just typical of me.  When I’m upset with someone or something I want to fix it right away, when a friend is hurt I want to fix it, when a relationship falls apart I want to pick it up and glue it back together.  It’s a blessing and a curse.

I saw the curse side of it this week.  Despite how great my week was, I still had my friend in the back of my mind.  There was nothing I could do to ‘fix’ anything.  I could relate, but I couldn’t fix it.

As I kept thinking about this I can’t help but know somewhere deep down that I’m not supposed to be able to fix everything all the time.  It’s something that I’ve been forced into a couple times in my life.  Not everything will always get better, somethings aren’t meant to.  Somethings are meant to be broken for a reason.  Maybe that reason is growth, maybe that reason is a realization maybe that reason is to bring together other relationships.  It may take a while to figure out the reason things have to break sometimes, but they do.

And sometimes all you can do is sit there with a friend and cry.  All you can do is say a little prayer and be an encouragement.  Sometimes all you can do is accepted that you can’t fix it and watch a few more saturday morning cartoons with one of those really good friends.

It’s a lesson I’ve HATED to learn but it’s a lesson that I’ve had to learn, a lesson that has refined who I am.

A Little Heartbreak Is Not Always Bad

My tonight was scripted by God.  It was like the evening flowed perfectly from his pen into my reality.

I knew I needed to blog about tonight just so I could remind myself why exactly I blog.  Lately I’ve blogged in order to share little updates of my life, but tonight is different.  Tonight is the reason I blog.  Something was put on my heart.

Tonight I was productive, I got to do things I wanted to do, things I like to do.  I got to cook and run and do laundry (I only like the feeling of this being done, not really doing it).  And to top it off I got to have my heartbroken a little.

I was invited a while back to a thing called Harp and Bowl.  It is a praise and worship service that a friend of a friend of mine helps to lead and it was suggested that I check it out.  So tonight I decided that since it was a pretty informal deal I would go for a run and end my run at the church and take a little peek in.

The topic of tonight’s harp and bowl was Healing.  Healing is something powerful, I’ve experienced it first hand.  But tonight wasn’t so much about my healing.  The service was exactly what I was hoping.  It was amazing musicians sharing spirit filled songs of healing while people could come and go, sing along, read, spend time in prayer and intercede for others.

I decided that while I could always use healing, tonight I was there to participate as I felt led and be in prayer for others.  That is about when my heart started to break.  A girl stood to share her testimony and with passion and zeal she proclaimed Isaiah 61 and it’s indisputable power of us.  Beauty from ashes, strength from fear.  She shared her story, she was married to a man she fell in love with at 18.  By the time she turned 25 she was a widow.

There is nothing more heartbreaking than hearing a 20-something widow share of immeasurable pain and heartache, share total devastation and see the hurt when she described not having the strength to get out of bed.  There is nothing more humbling than to think of my lack of faith in Christ’s healing power when I heard a 20-something widow share the power of the cross and the victory over death that gives her strength to put one foot in front of the other everyday.

My heart broke for her.  My heart broke hearing what she endured, and then I was reminded of the amazing hope in the situation.  She was being healed.  She was putting one foot in front of the other, she was choosing the life that Christ had in mind for her.

With that in mind, it gave me hope for the people in my life who are in need of healing.  I guess maybe a little heartbreak can be a good reminder.

The Best Thing I Ever Ate

Do you watch the food network???

I do! I do! Pick me! Pick me!

When I’m anywhere close to cable TV I have it flipping between the Food Network, and ESPN…a weird combo, I know!

One of my favorite shows (I have a lot when it comes to the Food Network) is called The Best Thing I ever Ate.  If you have not seen the show, let me enlighten you.  It is where famous chefs and food personalities share what foods they really, really love.  What foods are the best things they have ever eaten!  They have different themed shows sometimes things like The Best Thing I Ever Ate- Cheesy Edition or Sweet Treat Edition, or Appetizer Edition…you get the idea!

So, I decided to do my own version of The Best Thing I Ever Ate- Summer Version.  I have a couple things that I would like to share…so, so yummmmmmmy!!!!!

The Best Thing I Ever Ate…

…Breakfast

My Version of the filling for Breakfast Burritos

I’m not sure if it was just the company I held, the setting or if this really was the best breakfast I’ve ever eaten, but my choice for breakfast is an Amazing Traditional Breakfast Burrito from this cute little place in downtown Cedar Rapids, IA (forgive me for not remembering the name-I think it was new).  Oh my goodness!!! It was amazing.  A warm homemade tortilla, soft and chewy.  Scrambled eggs, light and fluffy.  Bacon, sweet and smokey.  Potatoes, hearty and seasoned in bacon grease.  Cheese, ewwey and gooey and num..num..num.  It was delicious!  Simple and hearty and sooo unhealthy but sooo yummy!  I attempted to recreate these delicious treasures and didn’t do half bad…however I still have yet to make homemade tortillas.

…Dinner

Iowa Sweet Corn- Doesn’t get any better!

I think that last night was the BEST dinner I’ve had all summer.  Let me set the stage for you; A glass of wine, a grill, a beautiful night, fresh produce, and a best friend to giggle and reminisce with.  PERFECT!  On the menu was grilled, marinated pork loin, roasted garden potatoes (thanks to my sister and her green thumb!), fried green beans and fresh sweet corn (thanks to the stand on the side of the road--best way to get sweet corn in the summer).  Summer deliciousness!  Everything was cooked perfectly.  The fresh green beans had a little yummy crisp from being sautéed with bacon.  The potatoes were perfectly crisp on the outside and seasoned with bold olive oil.  The corn was fresh and of course went perfectly with a little butter.  This meal was basically my childhood wrapped up into a meal!  …and the reason I love Iowa in the summer!

…Sweet Treat

Almond Patty Courtesy of Casey’s Bakery

So, I recently moved to a Dutch community.  Greatest thing about Dutch communities=Dutch Bakeries! :)  I successfully made it through 4 years of college in a Dutch community without eating an ALMOND PATTY, but I made up for that within a week of living in Sioux Center.  How do I even begin to describe this…it is the most delicious pastry I’ve ever eaten!  It is flakey, buttery pie crusty goodness with caramelized and slightly crunchy sugar on the outside.  And then the filing….oh the filling!  It is almondy, buttery, melt in your mouth, heaven on earth.  I don’t even know how to do this little treat justice and if you’ve never experienced this treat, you must!

So there you have it! My Best Thing I Ever Ate  list is complete…for now!  My suggestion to you would be to find yourselves these amazing eats and then treat yourself, or even make your own list of Best Things You’ve Ever Eaten!  However, if you are going to do this, make sure you share these yummy bites with people you love.  My favorite part about cooking and eating is sharing that time with amazing people.

Bon Appetite!

Getting Busy

It’s thunder storming outside and there is Friends on the TV… a perfect ending to a productive day.

Well…it was mostly productive, however I have a little something I need to admit.

Don’t judge me!

Today I bought cleaner from a door to door salesman…there, I said it...I can hear your long sigh of disapproval from here!!!

I feel like I got dooped but the guy was just so nice and he showed me all of the great things it could do and it was ONLY 40 bucks…Now I can hear your chuckle of relief that it wasn’t you.  Hey, it went to a good cause, he told me it was going to support inner city youth.

I’m a sucker!

Anyway, let us not allow that to overshadow all the great things that I did today.  I worked out details for my coaching endeavor at NWC and did a little work with that.  I took a great nap.  I read my favorite part of Anna Karenina. Weeded and Pruned my front yard.  Grilled a great supper and did some school work.  Ahhhh….the feeling of accomplishment! :)

The reason I’m blogging now is really because I feel like I need to take some time to do this while I still have the time.  One of the things I accomplished today was writing in a bunch of dates in my planner.  It filled up quite quickly!!!

I think I decided that I like being busy.  Some people may be able to relate, some not so much.  I think it all started in high school.  I was one of those people who was involved in everything…all at once!  College didn’t slow down and being a teacher and coach has fit into that lifestyle nicely.

This summer has been exactly the opposite of that.  I’ve had time to do what I want, read what I want, make my own schedule and drop everything to go visit friends.  It’s been great…and really weird.    Living like that is something I think everyone should experience and it really has been really fun.  But I’m ready to get back to the life of schedules, middle schoolers and grown-up mail.

I’ll try to post some updates on my new adventures regardless of my rapidly filling schedule.  :)

Summer Nights

The last two nights have been two of my favorite nights all summer.

Let us start with last night. 

My final road trip of the summer took me to the rebuilding city of Cedar Rapids where I found one of my favorite married couples.  They hosted me for the evening and we did some serious catching up.

  To describe the night for you lets start with walking up to their apartment.  These good friends live in a tree house above a garage (aka a quaint well decorated apartment above a garage and beautiful trellis overflowing with greenery and flowers). It was spectacular! When I got there we got busy catching up and soon found some amazing food waiting in the kitchen.  We ate to our hearts content and drank some delicious wine frome a local winery.

After dinner we made our way downtown to a cute coffee show for a poetry reading.  I have to say here that I've not ever been the poetry reading type but there ws some quality stuff being shared and I really enjoyed the humor of the eldest reader (his first poem was entitled the A-bomb vs. the F-bomb).  On the way home from there we drove around a little and I got a glimpse into the urban life being tamed by this fantastic couple.  When we got back we grabbed some sangria and sat out on the deck.  This was my favorrite part of the trip.  We got to sit surrounded by beautiful plants gleaming in the twinkling low lights and just talk.  I can't tell you how much I've missed moments like that in the last year.  Those are the time when you get real and really learn about each other.  It's my favorite.

(side note- we woke up Sat am and went to an amazing farmer's market, it was huge and so much fun...minus the rain) :)

Ok, now on to last night.

I made the short drive from CR to Dubuque hung a right and ended up in the bustling historic town of Galena IL.  My Aunt and three cousins live on top of a hill overlooking the historic shops of downtown. 

The day was filled with yummy sushi, catching some rays at the pool and gofling the back nine with my cousin (we got some much needed coaching along the way...well at least it was much needed for me, my cousin is decent.  By the way if you're wondering since when did I golf, this has become a recent obsession of mine). 

Now to my favorite part. We got home from the course about 9 so we decided to grill for supper.  My aunt whipped up some drinks and worked here magic in the kitchen (she is the best cook I know and trust me that says a lot!).  I got to sit out in the yard and watch the dog while she was bustling arour preparing a summer feast.  As I was sitting there I though back on my perfect day and smelled the summer smells of fresh cut grass and charcoal and I thought to myself. I've not been this content in a long time.  I thiink the combination of a great day, great family, summer smells, great conversation and fresh delicious food put me in a nostalgic mood.  Those are the things I remember and cherish from growing up.  It's a simple midwestern life and some of you may not understand, but it has become one of the most important thing to me.

My hope in posting this is to share with  you, my faithful blog readers, a little of what I love.  It may be oddly specific but it's all about that combination of oddly specific things that make life beautiful to me.  I hope that very soon you too can get with your friends and family and revisit what summer nights mean to you.

Oh...and hurry up, it's already mid AUGUST!!!!!