I Copied These from Kate Rhodes

Kate put these quotes from C.S. Lewis on her blog.  http://theliliesofthefield.tumblr.com/  


“Remember He is the artist and you are only the picture. You can’t see it. So quietly submit to be painted—-i.e., keep fulfilling all the obvious duties of your station (you really know quite well enough what they are!), asking forgiveness for each failure and then leaving it alone.You are in the right way. Walk—-don’t keep on looking at it.” 
                                                                              ― C.S. Lewis


“In friendship…we think we have chosen our peers. In reality a few years’ difference in the dates of our births, a few more miles between certain houses, the choice of one university instead of another…the accident of a topic being raised or not raised at a first meeting—any of these chances might have kept us apart. But, for a Christian, there are, strictly speaking no chances. A secret master of ceremonies has been at work. Christ, who said to the disciples, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,” can truly say to every group of Christian friends, “Ye have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another.” The friendship is not a reward for our discriminating and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each of us the beauties of others.”
                                                                                   ― C.S. Lewis

Jesus Christ did not suffer so that you would not suffer. He suffered so that when you suffer, you’ll become more like him. The gospel does not promise you better life circumstances; it promises you a better life.

                                                                               — Tim Keller

Recipe

I made this on Tuesday.  It was delicious.  I found it on Pinterest.  Sharing it here.

I know there are a lot of these out there and many of you might have your own version - or this same one - but I loved it.  It's a first cousin to the Seven or Eight Layered Salad - the one that has green peas and chopped veggies and cheese and mayo and bacon.

Southwestern Chicken and Cornbread Salad

Ingredients

6 cornbread muffins, very dry, coarsely crumbled, divided

1 (2.25 ounce) can sliced ripe olives drained

1 (16 ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained

1 (11 ounce) can whole kernel sweet corn, drained

1 cup Hidden Valley® Spicy Ranch Dressing, divided

1 cup bell pepper, diced, assorted colors

2 chicken breasts, grilled*

1/2 cup red onion, diced

1 cup tomatoes, seeded and diced

1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions

In large clear salad bowl or trifle dish, layer half of the cornbread followed by the can of olives, the can of pintos, and the can of corn.  Top with 1/2 cup of the dressing.  Layer with the chopped bell pepper, the chicken, the diced onion, the diced tomatoes, and then the remaining cornbread and remaining dressing.  Sprinkle with cheese. 

Cover with saran wrap and refrigerate several hours or overnight.

My added comments.  I NEVER EVER use bottled Ranch Dressing.  I don't like it because I know that the original version made with the packet and the buttermilk (NOT the kind where you add milk)  and good mayo (Helman's) is so very much better.  I had some fresh in the refrig so I used my mixed version.

Also - I don't have a large clear bowl or a trifle dish.  I used a large opaque bowl.  

One other thing. I'm always afraid that one making won't be enough.  I doubled it.  

I thought Ann and her family would be joining Charlie, Kate and I - but they didn't.

Still, the next day it was delicious - so I was very glad to have leftovers.

When the recipe is doubled it's a very large salad.

Other thing - it was more labor intensive than I had planned.  I had to make the cornbread.  Didn't just have it on hand.  and...all the hand chopping.  I did not use my food processor to chop.  And the thorough draining of those cans of beans and corn - I didn't want added liquid.

Also - the seeding and dicing of the tomato - still - it was very worth it.  I started too late in the afternoon.  I would recommend having the ingredients on hand and making it early in the day.  Or day before.  And have an empty dishwasher so you can throw all of that in there and not have to hand wash a LOT of bowls and utensils.  

Anyway - this was super duper in my book.

One other thing - I had grilled chicken left from the night before.  One could purchase a Rotisserie Chicken at the grocery store - or just leave out the chicken and it would still be a hearty salad.  

Okay, I Don't Know Where to Start, Nor How to Title This Post

So - I just titled it with that admission and this whole post will be an admission of sorts - or a disclosure about myself.

I am going to share something rather quirky about myself - odd - yet it feels perfectly normal and natural to me.

The idea to post about this came to me on Monday after I had bought new makeup.  I had to make myself throw away the packaging after I took the makeup out of the boxes.

It's Estee Lauder and I save the packaging and the empty bottles and other containers.

I do.  See for yourself.

I have not always done this.

The idea came to me a few years ago when I experienced that little thrill of getting new makeup.

I love the packaging.  I love the containers.  So I decided I'd just keep them.

And when I'm done with the product - when I've used it all - I thoroughly clean  out the container - getting rid of all makeup residue or cream residue or whatever the residue is - 

and I return the empty vessel to it's box.  

Does the reader find this odd?

Ann realized I was doing this, shortly after she moved back to Scottsboro from Albuquerque.

She asked me, "Mom, when you die, what are we supposed to do with your empty Estee Lauder containers?"  I told her to throw them away.

On Monday when I  MADE myself throw away the boxes, I felt a tug of regret.

Yet I felt I didn't really need to hoard these pretty blue boxes.

 I did thoroughly clean out the powder container and I washed the puff.

That's it.  That's my quirky habit.  I enjoy it.

I began using Estee Lauder in 1973 and have used it on and off since then, depending on my age and spendable income.  Now that I'm 61 and my skin is showing results of my abuse in the sun,  I definitely use it.  The only other makeup that I've been as satisfied with is Mary Kay.  I really really liked it.

But I like Estee Lauder the best.

My skin might be better if I had indulged in their skin care products.  I did for a while, but the damage had been done and it was just too expensive.  I now just use their makeup for cover up and enjoy what samples they share with me.

What if I'd been saving the packaging and containers since 1973? That would be really crazy!

Halfway Through May. Can You Believe It?

To the some 20 odd people who still might read my blog.... if that many...., I'm going to post something.

I promise my life is so full - but just not blog worthy.  Correction - actually, I think any life is blog worthy - the daily tasks and dealing with them - they are reality - and I do find the details fascinating and listening to someone tell them - but to put all of it into words, creatively - well - it's a challenge.

I do teach an art class on Wednesday nights at church.  So - I took pictures and am about to post them.
There are a lot.  I don't think I will narrate - there are just so many.  Feel free to comment with questions.  (I ended up narrating toward the bottom of the post)

The Art Show was on Wednesday May 9, 2012 - last Wednesday.  The children are from grade 1 through 6.  Wide age range for abilities and skills - but we get it done - thanks to the internet.  There are some great blogs out there by professional Art Teachers of Children.  I have about 2 or 3 which are my favorite.  I use the projects which they share with the world.

THE RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY CHURCH ART SHOW

TA DAH! or DRUM ROLL! or MUSIC INTRO!

Below are pictures I took of the children finishing up some work they'd begun.

I love to see them at work.  So intent on what they are doing.

And if you live in Scottsboro, and are curious about the inside of the not very typical church building, on Broad St.,  which houses our body of believers,

well, here are some not very good photos I took.

We've just recently spruced up the sanctuary, below, but this picture doesn't do it justice.

It now has a new warm and cozy feeling.  I love it.

Sad you can't see it in this picture.

Below is the art room, leading into the sanctuary.

Across the sanctuary is the door leading to the kitchen.

 Below is from Steve's perspective or anyone's perspective if they are standing behind our little black podium.  In the way way back is all the audio stuff.  Our audio guys sit back there.

See the round white spot at the very back.  That's a very large clock.

I think that's for Steve.  I never think he goes too long, but he is kind of known for that.

I'm usually so into his very very gifted bible teaching that I don't even notice it's gotten late.

I don't notice it's long until his son, Luke, whispers to me, "Is Daddy almost finished?"

Cute.

There.  I've finally done a new post.