Food Brings Us Together

The collision that happens over a table of well made cuisine and beverage is such a pleasurable experience for me. Though family and conversation might be exhausting, in general these are the experiences that draw us into a deeper understanding of our world and appreciation of those that surround us. Cheers to the next table debate and memory made.

Recently, I visited a little German restaurant in Jacksonville, OR with my cousin that is definitely worth the experience. Perhaps it was my inner German that was so pleased, but I really do recommend the excellent potato dumplings and dunkel beer. Thanks Liz for the treat!

For the comfort of your own home and next dinner guest, please try this next recipe - it really is the BEST Chocolate Bundt cake I have ever made. And make sure to have lots of yogurt or ice cream on hand as it is also the richest. Enjoy!

$450 dollars later

This was my bill for new tires after a quick inspection revealed a nail, and the well worn truth that my tires would not take me safely to California and back. Well, this would not to be the only unexpected news that would fall upon my ears while I waited at Les Schwab tire center. On the other end of my phone line was an offer of employment. Ego boosted, I politely told the HR rep that I would need time to think over the offer as I was heading out of town. I did not tell her it was to another interview for a job I much preferred to the one being dished up.
So, when 24hrs later I had another offer, I was counting my lucky stars and praising Jesus! Not only were the staff friendly and the location grand, but after a tour of the quaint little town of Truckee I even held a hand drawn map of the "Must See" tour of the area. My new friend of a local framing shop had immediately started drawing and recommending sights to see after our brief discussion of local recreation and art. She even promised to check in with some friends for rental options. And not only that, but she is the wife of the local cardiologist!!! PRAISE! -even if the hospital does not have a cath lab this is pretty close to one of those God ordained meetings.
The rest of my afternoon was spent following the "map" with my mouth wide open in a huge grin. I was definitely the tourist pulling over and snapping photos with my phone, as I regretfully did not have my camera with me. My adventure took me past the famous Donner Lake, up to three of the local ski resorts, down to lake Tahoe and past mount rose. Needless to say my mind already has begun planning the many more adventures surrounding these areas. Biking, XC skiing, Sail boating, and hiking all seem a wonderful part of the lifestyle here- WOOHOO I feel home!
Also, check one off the bucket list I gave a hitch-hiker a ride along the way!

Christ is better than anything else!

When being called to be a disciple of Christ both Matthew and Luke were very clear in recording Christ's biography. To be saved it is quite simple, they record that one simply has to believe that Jesus is the Christ, accept His forgiveness of all sin and that person will live in eternity with the rest of those that claim the same. But to be a disciple of Christ the standard is raised. Change is expected as one pursues truth and conformity to the likeness of Christ. Not a bad thing to become, since Christ was the most perfect example of human love- Just a very hard to emulate. Thankfully, the Spirit is present in the lives of those that believe and assists in the transformation.
This Sunday, when I heard Keith speak on this change, and challenge of being a disciple of Christ, I was immediately convicted to pray more:

• Pray to God for the best for other people that I might not like, and certainly for those I do not love.
• Pray to come to a better understanding and relationship with God
• Pray that God would me give wisdom

I was also struck by the difficult statements recorded in Luke- and quite frankly I don't want to do them because they are tough. I want to quit, but disciples are defiantly not quitters. And if I claim to be a follower of Christ, and desire to represent Him well to the world around me, I need to follow His instruction left in the bible. (I have paraphrased the verses in Luke Chapters 14:26-34.)

• If I hate any member of my family, I can not be a disciple.
• If I can not set my life aside and be self-less in my plans, I can not be a disciple.
• If I have not considered the cost of being a Christ follower and how different/ difficult it will be, I am ill informed and have not read the scriptures, and can not be a disciple
• Submit on all levels to Jesus

Why? Is the first thing that then pops into my mind after this list. And again it is answered.

• You have extreme worth to God 
• You have a purpose and destiny
• With Christ, you reach your full potential
• To live in love and know truth
• God is love
• Christ is better than anything else!

Change happens in small increments at times and some life experiences expedite the process. So, for today I will focus on the task of praying, and I will be still and know that he is God, and He is good. Psalm 46:10

Some of my Favorite Things

It makes me so happy to be reunited with my bike. So, the other day I decided to start with some photos and see where this project takes me.

Adventures with the roommates

Japanese Night

Smith Rock

Shevlin Park

Exercise is the BEST Medicine

It has taken two months, holidays, travel, moving and countless disappointments for me to finally sit and breathe. No, the yoga classes just made me frustrated that I am inflexible, and re-enforced that inverted positions are hard. There was rejection to great attempts and classes to stave off boredom. Oh and don't forget the ever popular question of, "Have you tried e Harmony?" All this has left me exhausted emotionally. Thankfully, wow thought I would never say that, I have been through depression before. I am so thankful to be in Central Oregon where the sun shines and activities are just outside your door. I am thankful for friends that meet up for walks, drinks and dinner parties. I am thankful for my brother who let me tag along on a spelunking adventure and has been enthusiastic about dinner parties. And as frustrating as she is, I am thankful that my mother's willingness to always go art walk, dancing or xc-skiing. And thanks Dad for letting me stay.

Emotional Me= exhausted and disappointed

Below is an excerpt from a blog I really enjoyed today. It is about having "emotional intelligence." I really appreciate someone writing about this because I do not have the words to express why I cry. Click on the link to read the rest of the article.

How often do we, as a spiritual family, talk about how we feel about life, God, and ourselves? Not surface level chitchat, but the aches and the cries of our hearts?

We like generic terms: “I’m doing well” or “I’m struggling, but God is good.”

I like generic terms because saying “My heart feels like it’s being ripped to shreds by the injustice in the world and my gut says I need to do something about it, and I kind of want to throw up because my brain says I’m insane and is anxious about everything…” makes me sound a little unstable.

If I were to start cursing the day of my birth or ripping my clothes off to scream about current events, you’d have me committed for a psych evaluation. To some extent, I can’t say I’d blame you.

Sometimes we are overly dramatic. Sometimes our emotions do rule our life. Generally though, our emotions are more normal than we think.

There is a time and a season for every feeling from euphoria to rage to empty indifference. Unleashing those emotions is a natural part of human existence.

Not in an “I’m gonna unleash this can of whoop ass” professional WWE wrestling sort of way, but in a healthy “I’m going to allow myself to feel and then learn how to respond to what I’m feeling”  sort of way.