On the homeward stretch.......

My blogs over the last week or so have been about our vacation.  We have started the homeward stretch of the trip with our final stop Memphis.  We spent a really enjoyable day in New Orleans yesterday.  We stayed right downtown on the Mississippi River.  We walked the French Quarter, visited some amazing food places and even took a ferry ride on the river! We decided to try to eat "local" foods on this vacation and for the most part, we have succeeded!  We ate shrimp and fish during our entire stay on the gulf coast.  In New Orleans we even tried this.....

Alligator and Fried Catfish!  I thought the alligator had a very odd texture and really didn't care for it.  Ken ate it all!  I loved the catfish.  It was crispy and mild!

 

We had been told not to miss Cafe Du Monde so it was one of our first stops.  These pastries are simply decadent!  There must have been a pound of powdered sugar on our plate!  We both loved these!  It was a great day in New Orleans.  This morning we drove to Memphis, heading north towards home.  We are actually staying here tomorrow also, so we will have more time to look around.  Today we walked around and saw a bit of the "downtown" area.....

On our way to have "Real Memphis Barbecue".  We walked on Beahl St. and heard lots of blues music and jazz.  And then we ate.....

at a local barbecue joint recommended by the bell hop at our hotel.  It was really good food.  

Its been interesting to eat local.  You really get to see the regular people rather than just the tourists.  I think you also have the chance to pick up on the true "vibe" of a place when you do this.  We have been really surprised by the economy in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.  There are lots of people living way below the poverty level.  In all three areas we could still see signs of hurricane damage and ongoing repairs - even though it has been years since Hurricane Katrina.  The local people have for the most part, been friendly and helpful.  One thing that I noticed was far fewer churches than we are used to seeing.  In spite of that, I have sensed the presence of the Lord very strongly in these places.  New Orleans is very dark spiritually.  There is a lot of occult activity and I felt that as we walked the streets.  But even then, the presence of Jesus was clearly walking with us. There has been peace and calm as we have walked among the people.  There is a very real divide between the poor people and the wealthy.  We saw it yesterday as we walked through an "upscale" shopping area on the river just a block from a park filled with homeless people.  Today was a similar situation with our very nice hotel just blocks from the "real" downtown Memphis where there are bullet holes in the signs on the streets.  This has given me a lot to think about.  As we were driving through Mississippi today, I looked up some facts about the state (isn't it amazing that we have all this knowledge available at our fingertips on our phones?  Today especially I was aware of how blessed I truly am to have this).  Ken and I couldn't believe what I read.  The average income in the state is around $36,000 and many of the families are below the poverty level.  Let that sink in a minute.  WOW.  All I could think about is all of the children who don't have enough to eat or don't have proper clothes to wear.  It is good to help people in foreign countries, but then you hear a statistic like that and it makes you think!   Yes, it is good to see your country for yourself. It is good to walk the streets and meet the people and really LOOK at their homes and see into their spirits.   

Ken accomplished something else on this trip.....he crossed another state off of his list of states to visit.  He had never been in Louisiana.  Our list of states to visit is shrinking!  Ken has only 6 states left to visit (Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Montana and Wyoming) while I have 11 (Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Vermont and New Hampshire).   We will be planning more vacations and taking time to really see these states.  It is really eye opening.   It sure gives you a better idea how to pray!  

In just a couple of days we will be home.  It is always good to be away and even better to be back home.  This has been a trip of many stops and seeing many different things in all new places for Ken and I.  It has been a trip for us of going "outside of our comfort zone".  And that is good.  

Jesus, thank you for encouraging us to go into new places and see new things.  Thank you for opening my eyes to the poverty of the south.  Holy Spirit give me wisdom and opportunities to make a difference for these people.  Thank you Jesus for your presence with us and your protection over us.  Thank you for new food and new sights.  Amen

The best kind of "Tea Party" around!

 

 

Yesterday I got invited to a very special "Tea Party", hosted by Ellie.  It was sort of an impromptu party when I watched the kids at the last minute so Gwen could attend a meeting.  



Zeke was also invited!  He was quite happy to attend.  Fortunately, Anna decided it was a great time to take a nap, so she skipped the festivities and slept peacefully in the playpen right next to me.   Just that morning Gwen posted a picture of Ellie and a tea party they were having!  I commented that I would like to be there.  So it was wonderful when Ellie proceeded to set up everything and ask me to attend!  That was simply the best 45 minutes I have spent in a long time.  Ellie and Zeke both talked about so many different things!  We had some wonderful conversation about food (based on the play food that was being served!) but there was also some interesting information shared!  Regarding the food, I found out that Ellie doesn't really like anything right now and Zeke likes everything!  (This is actually pretty true -  Ellie did finally say that she likes "ice cream, Frosties, donuts, and pizza."  And after a short pause she added "daddy's pancakes").  Then the conversation got serious.  Ellie shared several versions of some books she recently read.  She told me all about her recent vacation to Florida (she was surprised that I knew that the ocean was salty and tasted bad).  And then she revealed that she is nervous to go to school in a few weeks (she starts Kindergarten and will be riding a bus with Lia and going for the WHOLE day!) It was so wonderful to have this concentrated time with these two amazing kids!  I am very blessed. 

Isn't it true that when we sit down and eat with someone, we share more if there is food on the table?  I love that the Bible is full of stories that include food and meals.  And I especially love that Jesus gave us clear instructions to include food every time we gather together, during his instructions at the Last Supper.  I suppose it is no surprise then, that most churches have food at the majority of events held.  I can assure you that I have attended more than my share of "church suppers" which ALWAYS include a "hot dish" (this is just another word for a casserole that must be "Minnesotan") and jello in some form.  And I have at least 6 church cookbooks that I use often!  Yes, I appreciate all that food has added to my church experience. 

My home group always has food and I really believe that is one of the reasons we are so close.  We talk about so many different things over our plates of food.  By the time we sit down to do our Bible study and to pray together, we are already bonded together in the meal.  I am very grateful for this special group! 

I love that Jesus gave us lots of incentive to eat together.  And when Jesus is in the center of the eating, when you are spending time talking about things that are really important, when great discussions happen, it is simply the best. 

Now don't you just want to go and find something to eat and someone to be with?  Don't you want to plan a tea party for some friends, or relatives, or neighbors?  Well, I say, GO and DO THIS!     And be blessed!

Jesus, thank you for this special tea party with Ellie and Zeke.  Thank you for that very sweet and relaxing time just listening.  Holy Spirit, what a wonderful gift you have given us to draw us together over food.  Give us all a nudge to invite others to eat together!  Give us courage and boldness to ask and follow through with this and then give us wisdom and grace to really listen and share!  Thank you for this reminder that fellowship with food is so important.  Amen

Spritz Cookies, my grandma and Communion.......

I had another really busy day today.  My weekend has been spent going from one task to the next.  But in the midst of that, it has been very "Christmas-y"!  Today in addition to the usual weekend stuff that needs doing (you know, things like groceries, laundry, cleaning), I managed to make some candy, one batch of my favorite Christmas cookies (more on these later), and I wrapped about 2/3 of my Christmas presents.  Not bad!  I've had a couple things on my mind today.  First of all, these Christmas Butter Cookies.  They are made with a cookie press and just melt in your mouth.  The recipe that I use was my Grandma Johnson's (my dad's mother).  It's very simple.  1 cup of butter (and it has to be REAL butter), 1/2 cup of sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp of vanilla, and 1 tsp of almond extract.  The interesting thing about these cookies is that I don't really have many memories of these cookies when I was growing up.  My mom told me (when I was in high school) that her original cookie press had stopped working at some point, and she just never replaced it.  Then, my dad brought home a new cookie press.  Suddenly these cookies were made every Christmas! 

The problem that I have with these cookies is that I can eat them non-stop!  I just can't eat one and it doesn't end up with just two or three.  I love these cookies!!!!!  You only get about 50 small cookies and they have 1/2 pound of butter in them, so you know that they are rich.  Just let me say, you need to try out these cookies. 

 This is my Grandma Betty Johnson.  I'm not sure when this picture was taken but I am guessing sometime in the early 1950's.  My only real memory of her is visiting her at her house (which is near to Lake Maud).  She had a candy jar and always gave me a piece of candy.  And I remember that she had a kitten and she let me hold the kitten.  She died when I was 4 years old.  Today I was thinking about these cookies and wishing that I had known her when she was making these cookies.  I am so thankful that I have this recipe and that it has not been lost.  I have passed this recipe on to my daughter and my daughter-in-law so that our future generations can  continue to enjoy these amazing "Spritz Cookies" from Sweden.  So today my thoughts are on my own grandchildren.  I am more convinced of the importance of the little things that we can give to our family.  It is interesting that food is often a trigger to our memories. 

I can understand why Jesus decided to use food and a family meal to help us remember him.  I love that Communion is about remembering all that Jesus did for us.  I love that Jesus knew and understood how important gathering together around a meal is.  And I love that this amazing tradition of the Bible is something that I can pass on to my children and my grandchildren.  What an amazing blessing the Lord's Supper is to us. 

Jesus, thank you for food, fellowship and memories.  Thank you for the blessing of Communion.  Holy Spirit, thank you for using food to bring memories to our mind.   Thank you for Spritz Cookies, for Christmas and special treats. And Jesus, thank you for rest and time to enter into all of the fun of the season.   Amen