Category Archives: Family Times

September 22, 2012 · 12:00 pm

First Day of Autumn

My mom has a Colorado scenic calender that hangs near the kitchen. This month’s picture is titled, “Little Snake River sunrise.” The sun shines on the dry mountain peaks giving them a tan color for the horizon. The trees shimmer with orange and yellow. The sky is blue. You can see the fleeting trace of dark clouds at the top of the picture which are being replaced by puffy white ones that lay low in the sky by the peaks. And there is a double rainbow. I notice that I tend to stare more at pictures or paintings these days. I soak in the color schemes or theme. I try to visualize what the artist had in mind. This picture was the same. Just one of those that makes you wonder if the photographer purposely waited until sunrise to take the picture or whether it was spontaneous. I go with the latter.

Like the picture above. It was taken last Autumn, a day after one of my chemo treatments. My sister and two college friends were going to Yellow Springs to enjoy the air, colors and tourism. They really wanted me to go. So I went. I had a great time. This picture was spontaneous. Look at how perfect it is. Everything from color coordinating, our hand positions (that was not planned either) to my eyes peeking out from the leaf. 🙂 I thought the other two were doing the same. I don’t think the picture would have turned out as great if we planned it. And I love to plan! Ask my family…it drives them nuts. There is nothing wrong with planning ahead. Ask event coordinators. I am sure the word procrastination is never mentioned during their interviews. It is actually a job I could see myself thriving in, minus the telephone calls. Aside from profession, when you plan ahead based on circumstances, it is harder to embrace change. Trust me, it seems to be my life’s bad habit.

I wrote a post at the beginning of Spring about how my vision is blurry when I take my eyes off Jesus. Two seasons later I see parallelism to my future much like a leaf. A leaf grows in the Spring. It nourishes in the summer, and it dies in the Fall. Its beauty peaks a few days before it sees the ground. Have you ever watched a leaf fall from the tree to the ground? How is a leaf to know the timing of when it will be set free or the circumstances around it that will shape the direction of its fall?

Not that I am falling (well, ok, I do physically when I twist my ankle), but the circumstances around me seem to be falling. At least in my leaf-like eyes. Circumstances such as my last day of work is in exactly two weeks with no prospects open for something new. Circumstances such as my next MRI is October 22nd. To be honest, thoughts cross my mind frequently of what those results will show and whether or not I will have to restart another treatment. Circumstances such as finding an apartment, fixing my car, putting my paintings in coffee shops, or where God needs me to serve in a ministry. Circumstances–temporary things that shift like the wind. Circumstances that weigh heavy on the heart, much like the tug of gravity on a leaf. Circumstances that are out of my control or leave me confused.

I cannot see what lies ahead, but I have to trust in God’s timing. It is perfect. It is not spontaneous like human plans. It is tenderly planned to meet all my needs. He sees the greater picture. I see the spontaneous moments piece by peace. I must admit that as much as I try to keep my eyes on Jesus, I am more like Peter who looked down at the roaring waves beneath his feet. Life is walking by faith. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen,” Hebrews 11:1.

And faith is much like Autumn. Change is here. Change is not always a strand of negative effects. Without the change of colors and falling leaves, how will Winter ever arrive? I must embrace change. I must embrace the Autumn in my life, for even when everything around me seems to be falling–it is beautiful. And so I wait. I wait for God’s timing, because if a leaf falls too soon it can be trampled. If it falls too late, it can wither. I wait for His release of beauty as I enter the Autumn winds.

Well, sometimes my life just don’t make sense at all

When the mountains look so big and my faith just seems so small

CHORUS: So hold me Jesus, ’cause I’m shaking like a leaf

You have been King of my glory

Won’t You be my Prince of Peace

And I wake up in the night and feel the dark

It’s so hot inside my soul, I swear there must be blisters on my heart

CHORUS

Surrender don’t come natural to me

I’d rather fight You for something I don’t really want

Than to take what You give that I need

And I’ve beat my head against so many walls

Now I’m falling down, I’m falling on my knees

And this Salvation Army band

Is playing this hymn

And Your grace rings out so deep

It makes my resistance seem so thin

CHORUS

Rich Mullins. “Hold Me Jesus.” A Liturgy, a Legacy, & a Ragamuffin Band. (1993).

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September 5, 2012 · 11:19 pm

Picture This.

If you have ever played the game of Pictionary, you know how funny things can get. Everything from the artist’s fast drawings to what people guess based off the drawings…laughs are bound to happen. Then add a person like me. I read lips. So in a game where people are yelling their answers out and feeding thoughts off each other–I am left with my own brain. My very own train of thoughts. Not to boast–but I think I did pretty good the other night. It was a mind stretching game. 🙂 Of course, if you want honesty: My mind is pretty brilliant and complicated. There is no such thing as a simple answer in my vocabulary. Ask my family. Although I did get my brother-in-laws version of “import.” He drew a little sketch of the USA on the left side of the marker board and the Europe/Asia countries on the right side. He drew a dotted line with a boat going towards the right. He crossed it out. Then he drew a straight line with a boat to the left. At first I said out loud, “Ok, it has something to do with a map.” Then I went on: “Boat, Atlantic Ocean, slave trade…” Then it clicked: “Exporting. IMPORTING!!” 🙂 Pretty great train of thought.

On the other hand, we played a lot of “All Play” games. I think we won a record. More than half or three-fourths of the game was because we landed on the AP square or it had the triangle on the category sheet. Made it really fun! Me, my dad and my brother-in-law were on a team vs. my mom and two sisters. Dad was in turn to draw. I was focused. He drew a stick figure of a man. I blurt out: “Man.” He draws a stick figure of a girl the same height as the man. I say: “Couple”, “Spouse.” He draws a stick figure of a little boy next to the woman. I say, “Boy!” Dad looks at me as if I am on to something. Next thing I blurt out: “MALE HEIR!!!!” Thinking I am so cool. Dad looks at me like–“Say it in another phrase!”–sort of look. I say, “Um, child?” Right after that my younger sister says, “Son.” Son!! Me and my “male heir”. Good grief.

So, when it was my turn to draw, my sister would sit by me and look at what I was going to draw. Even with “All Play”, the teams were even so it worked out real nice. Because blurting out answers is one half of the game, then drawing is the other half. With my sister as my ears, I could focus on drawing until she heard the word. Very fair and logical. I don’t even think we discussed the “How should we do this?” She just stepped right in and did it and that is what we ended up doing the whole game when it was my turn to draw.

In the beginning of the game, I really did not want to play. Usually in games there is so much confusion from not being able to hear. This game, I just lived in my own little world and actually really enjoyed the game!! I felt like I was actually part of the game. A very good feeling!! After being a bit grumpy earlier that evening, laughing during the game lightened my heart. “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength,” Proverbs 17:22 NLT.

What games do you like to play?

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September 4, 2012 · 10:22 pm

Labor Day Weekend Recap

Hi everyone!

Last week seemed to go extremely fast! Wednesday’s session of Occupational Therapy went very well. Although it does not feel like it, my hands have improved from the strengthening exercises and brace (which I lost this weekend…story below). My next session is October 19th. The OT gave me a stronger “soft” putty. The irony. LOL. She also wanted me to do some thumb strengthening exercises, because they are actually very weak–which surprised me, because I feel my thumbs take a lot of control when using my hands to lift things or obviously when I text. 🙂 But they are weak, so I hope the strengthening exercises help.

How was your Labor Day weekend? Mine resembled much like the Adventures in Odyssey episode where the Barkley’s go on vacation in their home town–i.e. camping in their living room, playing guess-the-animal-when-blindfolded at the zoo and having ice cream at Whit’s End. While mine was not to that extent–it was a wonderful weekend with my family. Here is a quick recap:

Saturday–

I worked a short morning shift and then hurried home to join my family as we embarked in a journey back in time at George Rogers Clark Park a few towns over in Springfield, OH. The 30th Annual The Fair at New Boston was taking place all day Saturday and Sunday. I am glad we got there in the early morning, because there was so much to see and we were blessed to see most of the fair before the rain came in little splurges (more like random downfall that felt like hail.) What a fun event!!! It is a whole field was replica of the era 1790’s-1812. There were Indian encampments (we saw the Drum and Dance event), tents full of clothes, jewelry, gentlemen and ladies hats, wool socks, goodies, kids toys, food, shoes, a blacksmith and a printer, Daniel Boone enactment, tea and pottery–all this from that specific time era. The people who volunteered to be in the event did a great job in keeping the time era within the conversation. My mom heard a little boy ask a native how much his pipe cost. The reply: “About three beavers.” HAHA 🙂

I don’t know which was my favorite part, because it was all so neat to experience! I really liked the way they portrayed the social classes at the time: the workers, the soldiers, the upperclass women in their fancy clothes carrying baskets of fruit. The soldiers did a reenactment of a battle that actually took place in that area as George Rogers Clark held off the natives from joining the British forces in the war. I also really enjoyed seeing the ladies go through the washing clothes process. There were horses, oxen, chickens and a rooster. There was a man carrying around a rat in its cage and gave us the recipe for “Rat Stew.” We also ate amazing “ham and biskut” for a late lunch and you could buy an ale- looking mug for your drinks, then you got to keep the mug!! I just set my mug in my “colonial yellow and patriot themed room” with some flowers next to my bookshelf.

I bought a bag of butter mints, which were delicious and we all shared some peach over pound cake for a small dessert before we headed out. When you took the exit, a sign read, “You are now entering the 21st century.” Like Twilight Zone! If you are ever in the area for Labor Day, this event is quite a destination! At the bottom of this post are some pictures and the event website.

But first a few more stories about the weekend. Well, by now you are probably wondering what happened to my finger brace. Well, I’ll tell ya–I was not prepared for the major grass ruts we encountered at the fair. Within a few minutes of entering, my ankle twisted and I found the grass. 🙂 My dad was carrying a big umbrella, so it was just the right size to be my cane. I did find until we stopped at this tent that had gadets and kid games. They had this sign up that talked about how people at that time judged their character and personality by their nose shape. So getting a closer step to the clay nose-shaped examples, I triped over the tent peg and grabbed hold of the tent ropes. Envisioning the tent collapsing, I let go and did this slow motion backwards fall to the ground. People around thought I fainted (must have been graceful). But seriously, it was a hot and humid day, so I can see their train of thought. A few gentlemen from the other tent came over to help me get up and they asked if I was ok. I said, “Oh yeah. I was just trying to see my nose shape.” 🙂 I think that is where I lost my finger brace. I remember feeling it sliding off as I grabbed the rope, but never looked for it as my mind was on this–“just act cool”–moment after the fall. That is my only logical explanation.

Just one more side note–just for you history lovers like myself–George Rogers Clark was the older brother to William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Interesting. Well, Sunday after the community Church service, I took a nap! Then we enjoyed a movie at the Cedarville Opera House and a bit of ice cream from the new “parlor” in town. Yesterday, we attended the community pancake breakfast provided by our local volunteer firefighters. Next event was the rainy CedarFest parade. A bit of relaxing (another nap), dinner with my sister and brother-in-law, and we finally ended the weekend by watching the town fireworks from our patio, then playing a game of Pictionary.

What a spectacular weekend! Now, if you are wondering how I play Pictionary–good question! Look forward to that story tomorrow. 🙂 As promised, here are some pictures (thank you to my mom–I was a bit too wobbly to take my own) from the Fair at New Boston. And the website:

http://www.fairatnewboston.org/index.html

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August 13, 2012 · 12:51 pm

More Art on the Lawn Photos!

Hello all!

I hope your Sunday was a pleasant day whether you worked or you rested. I rested!!! I pretty much just got nothing done! I tried to upload some pictures on here yesterday and ended up falling asleep again on the couch! I guess I needed it. Yesterday was a nice time to reflect on Saturday’s events with my family and discuss future possibilities. This really was a huge event for me…such an open door to step through and see where it leads. It is exciting, and all so new–I have more things to learn about in different areas that are in the making. Currently, I do not have any paintings displayed at any other locations. There are several good possibilities for later events, so  I will be sure to keep every one updated of the where and when details as time goes on. So if that interests you, just keep checking occasionally for new posts concerning this matter. They would be referenced under the paintings archive. 🙂

And finally for today… more pictures!!!

This was the front left side of my booth. The story board shares a bit of my story and highlights of my past ten years of living with NF2.

My family was present, but this is the only picture I got with a family member. 🙂

My booth was right off the sidewalk! Just perfect!!

And as promised–a few of my favorites!!!

Call me a cat l0ver, but this is one of my ultimate favorites!

Thanks to my sister for the idea of putting the word “HOPE” instead of flowers! 🙂

The day after I finished this painting, a cardinal flew past my windshield on my way to work. I was passing through a wooded area, just a beautiful setting and a big surprise! It was special…my first sight of one since the move here!!

I like the simplicity of this set and the color blends. It started out as a place to use my extra paints. Then the idea formed in my head! Notice any patterns?? 🙂

And this is a true representation of my brushstroke style and the abstract painting that I just love! The contrast from light to different shades of dark with the green spot as the middle focus. I didn’t plan it that way, but that is just how it turned out. 🙂 It was a really fun painting! I was painting in my normal fashion–when my concentration was disrupted by a splatter of blue paint; I went in for the curve like motion and my force was too strong! I saw a whole blob fly in the air (literally) and land across the room on the floor. LOL. Whoops!! 😉

Lastly, another peacock! It is quite a bit bigger than the one I painted for my sister a year ago. I used sort of the same format, but different style of the feathers and facial features. My favorite part of this painting (or on peacocks in general) is their mohawk feathers on their head! 😀

Thanks for taking the time to see my pictures! I hope you enjoy them, because each one was fun to paint and create. As you view my work, remember that all things are possible with God! He shows it to me time and time again with every new painting I paint. I would have never in my wildest dreams see myself doing something like this. And yet, here I am. 🙂 I am so excited to see where this leads…and lots to pray about in the mean time! Have a great day everyone!

More to come…

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August 11, 2012 · 12:39 am

Art as a language.

Have you heard the phrase that when people are fluent in a language, they dream it? If art is a language, then I am fluent in it. 🙂 The last few weeks, I have been painting in my dreams! I can see the colors and feel myself doing brushstroke techniques…blending and creating. Considering this week’s schedule, I guess the lack of sleep and all those hours in the basement were rewarded today!!

Let’s just say today was AMAZING!!! What a neat experience to be part of the Art on the Lawn Festival in Yellow Springs! I met so many nice people and some of my friends came too! It was a long day though! Starting out the event with only a few hours of sleep is not ideal, but I am planning on catching up on sleep tomorrow. Anyway, the day was a grand time! Kicked off the event by twisting my ankle in a hole incognito by the grass as I was walking to the registration table. No harm done…only grass stained pants! My family was there to help set up, which I think they did a superb job!! (Kudos!!!) During the day, most conversations were giving information…most people have never heard of the disease before. I had a story board there with some pictures to explain some of my story, which helped a lot to understand about the genetics and why I have the disease. Because a portion of my proceeds are going to be sent to The Children’s Tumor Foundation, they were able to send us flyers for more readings. I think we passed out all but two! I was amazed though at the occasional conversations with people who are either cancer surviors or knew someone who struggled from other benign tumors or even NF1. To think that these diseases are so different and yet there is a common ground. We understand each other. 🙂

Today just could not have been any better! I raised over a hundred dollars for The Children’s Tumor Foundation! Thank you everyone who contributed! God even blessed the day with super dark, rainy clouds that never poured! Only a few sprinkles! And to end the day, some of our family friends were there to help take down…which was a blessing, because I think by that time we all were pretty much exhausted! I even fell asleep at the dinner table! LOL. My favorite part of the day was sharing all the excitement with my family. They deserved it just as much as me. Although they would deny that–but I would not be doing this without their ideas, support, prayers and encouragement!

I was asked a few times today what inspires my paintings. Truly a good question! The only answer I can say is that this is a gift that God has given to me. I love to encourage people. And now I have a new passion to share my story, think of others above myself, stretch myself beyond what I think I am capable of doing, and have fun in the process. Today I was called an artist. As an artist, I am still not sure where this leads but I would love to be part of something like this again!! Right now, I just look forward to things getting back to normal for a few days: Back to normal sleeping schedules; back to one cup of coffee a day (not three!); back to normal work hours; and back to writing blog posts more frequently.  🙂 Speaking of which–I am starting to fall asleep. Time for rest! More to come…

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August 7, 2012 · 10:42 pm

You’re Invited!!

Wow. This Saturday couldn’t come any faster! And with a loaded week of doctor appointments, work, a football game 🙂 and the finishing touches of paints and details for the display of my booth…sleeping in my MRI today has never felt so good!!! Yep, these summer months just seemed to fly right on by!!! My last MRI was in April. Things were stable, so the decision was to go another three months with no treatments of any sort and let my leg continue to heal from the blood clot. I am doing well for the most part. Some days I feel the tightness and pressure from the tumors more than others, but God always gives the grace needed to continue on. I must admit that standing on my feet all day long while painting and drinking lots of caffeine is not very normal, so I will look forward to more normality next week.

There are a few things on my list that I need to discuss with doctors about on Thursday. My mom and I go down for a full day of appointments with different doctors. I also have a hearing test on Thursday morning.

Usually during a week like this–full of doctor appointments–I often get nervous. Since I don’t know the results of my MRI, my mind starts to wander…thinking of all the different things that could be showing on the scans. I get frustrated when I go to the appointments and hear that nothing has changed on the scans. Don’t get me wrong, that is great news! But when side affects continue to change–more weakness, more difficulties in hearing, more pain spasms, more achy nerves, more fatigue…if I go Thursday and hear “No change”–I might be upset. But see this is all nonsense to think this way. I have no idea of the scan results and no control over it, so why worry about it? Bad habit I suppose.

To ease my bad habit, I honestly have been too busy these past few weeks and especially this weekend to even think about my doctor appointments. I have too much on my “to do” list for Saturday. I am so thankful for my family helping me…not only with different suggestions for paintings, but also ideas for my display and logo, getting supplies, steering clear of my messes in the basement, encouraging me when I am burnt out, and for planning on being there to help all day during the festival! One thing that is for sure–if I ever do another event like this, I will (1) have all the supplies such as tables and a canopy, (2) have one experience under my belt for reference of things that went well and things that did not, and (3) I will remember the cause/effect of procrastination and not go in that direction! Overall, it has been a great learning experience! I even painted different styles and experimented with different themes, textures and colors. 🙂 Not to mention sizes! Some paintings are almost as big as me (and wider!)

Thus, I would like to formally invite you to this Saturday’s events!

What a great opportunity to represent my paintings, my passion and what God has done in my life! I am so excited!! Check back early next week for a few pictures of my favorite paintings and stories of Saturday’s event!

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July 21, 2012 · 12:46 am

The Master Painter

This week I have been spending much of my time painting. The Yellow Springs “Art on the Lawn Festival” that is approaching on August 11th. I am getting excited for the event, but in the next two weeks I also have a lot of details to figure out with the booth set up and paintings. I am so thankful for my family allowing me to take over the basement with my projects. My dad even put in a fluorescent light in a corner of the unfinished part, so I can paint my big paintings. Yes, HUGE. Well, they could be bigger, but for right now they are the biggest I have ever worked with, meaning the boards being almost as tall as I am…that I consider pretty big. 🙂

A few things I have learned the past few weeks of painting: Artists keep an open mind (explore possibilities); Artists learn from others and artists do not procrastinate. Also from personal experiences: Artists do not talk with their hands while holding a paintbrush. 🙂

My family sees all my paintings. I have had paintings I consider duds, but that is where my family sees potential in them. Some like today, needed help! My mom and sister offered a few suggestions of how to make the painting better…then my dad came in and made a few comments, so I fixed more things. As I was finishing, I got paint (unknowingly) on my hand that smeared the bottom of the board. I had to redo the whole bottom half. I spent hours on this one piece. After finishing, I took a small break then headed back to work on another. But then it hit. Just this wave of fatigue. It felt like being back at college during finals week. I caved and took a nap.

As I was cleaning up for the night, I noticed a beautiful sunset out the window. I grabbed my camera and rushed outside just as the colors were peaking through the clouds. I realized that my painting is so small compared to the sky–God’s canvas. He is the Master Painter. I stood in awe of His work, His beauty and His majesty.

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.

Their voicegoes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for  the sun,
which comes out like  a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

Psalm 19:1-6

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July 15, 2012 · 1:42 pm

Weekly forecast.

Here was a quick recap of my week: coffee, work, paint, sleep (repeat). There were also some fun family events.

Friday: I had been talking about this day for weeks. I had my outfit set out in advance, just for this special event. Even a few people at work knew about my plans. But convincing my family to join me was another story. Shortly after “Uncle Kim” decided to join us, we were all on our way to a great dinner. It was wholesome fun, provided well needed laughs and the best food.

Yes siree, Friday was none other than Cow Appreciation Day, hosted by Chic Fil A. We were supposed to “moo” in this picture, but I did not hear that part–hence my smile. Of course, Dad went as Farmer Brown. At least the people found great humor in it. 🙂

Why dress like cows? Answer:

It was totally worth it!!

 As we were getting ready to leave, the cow mascot came out to meet kids.

I had to chase him down for this picture. 🙂

High five!!! If you missed it, don’t worry. It is an annual event. 🙂

Topped off the week with a spontaneous family event. We attended the musical called Seussical, based on Dr. Seuss’ works. What a show! I honestly could not hear much of anything (words) but I could catch a few phrases, like when Horton is looking for the speck in the field of flowers…he lifted up a flower and said, “Are you there?” Then would put it to his ear. LOL. Best part overall was watching their facial expressions and seeing their costumes. Really good show, dinner (they even had green eggs and ham!) and being with my family.

This weeks forecast looks back to normal: coffee, work, paint, sleep (repeat). Enjoy your week weather rain or shine!

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July 10, 2012 · 9:51 pm

Recipe: Stuffed Zucchini

My mom is an amazing cook! This summer season she has been cooking some amazing dinners whether grilled, cold pasta salads or in the oven. Tonight she used fresh picked zucchini from her garden to bake Stuffed Zucchini.

Mom uses a very practical idea for keeping her recipes easy and accessible. She uses a photo album!!

While I think recipe boxes are very cute and classic, I like the way the recipes in the photo album are easy to flip through and easy to read. To make things easier at dinner time, like my mom did for herself, you can categorize.

Recipes come from a wide variety of sources: internet, family or friends, magazines or ones you make yourself. I personally do not like to hand copy recipes. They turn out like burnt cookies. 😉 I am glad others enjoy it though. It is fun to flip through the “cookbook” and find Grandma’s handwriting on recipes. I am blessed with three Grandma’s, so there are many delicious recipes…my favorites being the different cookies and cakes. Flipping through the pages brings you an appetite and good memories! After all, isn’t that how most recipes start?

Stuffed Zucchini was a magazine clipping. I think it was probably from Taste of Home. Regardless, it was first made by a lady named Ruth. Mom used her zucchini and also used her garden herbs: dill (I think) and she added basil to the sauce.

Ingredients:

2 medium zucchini (Mom had 3 large ones)

1/2 pound ground beef or bulk Italian sausage

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 garlic clove, minced

2/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs

1/3 cup milk

1/8 teaspoon dill weed

1 cup spaghetti sauce (Mom used a whole jar)

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (Mom used the rest of the Cajun curds from Young’s Dairy! Added some good flavor!!)

Directions:

Cut zucchini in half lengthwise. Scoop out pulp, leaving a 1/4-in shell. Chop pulp; set pulp and shells aside. [Mom is putting her pulp/seeds in her compost pile, so it tastes fine without it too!] In a skillet, brown meat, onion, and garlic; drain. Add pulp, bread crumbs, milk and dill. Spoon into zucchini shells. Place in a greased 2-qt. baking dish. Top with spaghetti sauce; sprinkle with cheese. Cover [foil] and bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes or until zucchini is tender.

Yield: 2 servings [but it fed our family of four! 🙂 See picture below–plus add another pan! Made us two dinners this week!]

It is really a delicious recipe! I hope you enjoy it!!

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July 6, 2012 · 12:00 am

Treasure Falls

Today’s hot temperatures (and I mean HOT!) reminded me of a few things. First and foremost, I had nothing to complain about since my AC was running and I sat inside for the most part. Last week’s storms hit pretty hard. There are still thousands without electricity. Please pray for those who still have none as tomorrow is said to be record high temperatures.

And today, as I used my day off to write letters, I also sorted through some pictures from our CO trip in June. We took Wolfe Creek Pass to a site-seeing area called Treasure Falls. It was a little hike (and thanks to Dad’s walking stick and his arm) I made it to the top. Another “breath-taking view”…if I can borrow the term for the two meanings. 🙂

All who are thirsty

All who are weak

Come to the fountain

Dip your heart in the stream of life

Let the pain and the sorrow

Be washed away

In the waves of his mercy

As deep cries out to deep (we sing)
Come Lord Jesus come
Holy Spirit come
As deep cries out to deep

-Kutless, “All Who Are Thirsty”

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