Summer Fun! Renegades Baseball

     On Thursday evening our family went to a minor league baseball game.  We saw the Renegades vs. the Staten Island Yankees.  Anthony had been given tickets for doing well in school by the local PTA.  My brother, John, and his two girls joined us.

     The first pitch was thrown by the young man who parachuted onto the field after jumping out of  a helicopter.  

 

    At the Dutch there is not a bad seat in the house.  We were seated along the third base line.

     

Rene the Raccoon

     Anthony loved the game.  He didn't stop smiling the whole night.  He is usually the kid who never smiles in pictures.

     Patty and my niece were also all smiles.

     Connor, who later removed the headset,  and his cousin enjoyed everything about the game.  Especially the sno-cones.  Glad I took these pictures before the sno-cones!

God, George Washington, and Me

     When I was six years old my parents entered me in religious instruction classes.  The classes took place on Saturday morning, prime cartoon viewing time even then.  I remember the teacher standing at the front of the room telling us that we were going to learn about Jesus, who sits at God's  right hand and God the Father.

     There were two portraits conveniently placed above the blackboard behind her.  The portrait on the right was of Jesus blessing the children.  

Source

     While this is not the same picture from my childhood, it conveys the same warm feeling.  There were more children gathered around and touching Jesus.   Jesus was wearing a favorite bathrobe and slippers.   Jesus obviously liked children and they, Him.  He did not look like He minded their sticky fingers.  Jesus looked kind and caring.  In the picture I remember, Jesus even had a little pet lamb.  Jesus looked like the kind of adult a child would want to know.

     On the left side was what I thought was a picture of God.  It was a copy of a well known portrait of George Washington.

Source

     The picture of God was not friendly at all.  God looked very stern and unapproachable.  He had long white hair and a fierce hooked nose.  His clothes were long and dark.  God wore funny looking shoes, and from the expression on his face, they appeared to be pinching his toes.  He looked like the kind of man who might be a principal - someone who held people to rules and handed out punishments.  I was pretty sure that I would get in trouble with him.

     It was years before this case of mistaken identity was cleared up.  In fact, when I saw filmstrips with George Washington on them, I thought he had become President because of his resemblance to God.  George Washington may have been the Father of Our Country, but he was not God the Father.  

     My husband, Pat, will tell you that I do sometimes get in trouble with George Washington.  His picture is on the dollar bill.

     My son, Anthony, was so much smarter than me.  When he was six he told me, "Mommy.  I have God's face."  

     I must have looked a little skeptical.

     "Yes.  My Sunday School Teacher told me so."

So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him,
male and female he created them.  ~Genesis 1:26-27

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’  “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?   When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’   “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’  Matthew 25:34-40 

     Look gently into the faces of those around you.  We are not God, but we are His hands, His feet, and His Face to the people we meet everyday.
     When you pictured God as a child, what did He look like?

Linking to:  Think on These Things.

Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

I wish I were a food photographer.  These were soooo good.  Much better than my picture!

     Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Pancakes!  Need I say more?  These were amazing!  My cooking is not usually blog worthy - until today.  I was inspired by this wonderful recipe at Nutmeg Nanny.
      I met Brandy of Nutmeg Nanny at our local CSA.  Brandy saw me taking a picture of the list of goodies we were picking up that week.  Brandy mentioned that she had a blog and then I said, "I have a blog," and well you get the idea.  When I looked her up at home I realized that I had visited her yummy blog before.   Her recipes are just that good.
     Not sure what to make?  Brandy also lists recipes by ingredient.
    Brandy's recipe is "Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with Blueberry Sauce."   I used Brandy's recipe for the pancakes (plus one tablespoon of lemon juice) and then instead of making the sauce I folded the blueberries into the batter.

     My children loved it.  Definitely a "Do over."
     Blueberries grow on lovely bushes.  They do not ripen all at once, so you can see green, red, and then delicious purply-blue berries in one cluster.  

  Blessed of the Lord is his land,

With the precious things of heaven, with the dew,

And the deep lying beneath,

 With the precious fruits of the sun,

With the precious produce of the months,

 With the best things of the ancient mountains,

With the precious things of the everlasting hills,                                                 ~Deuteronomy 33: 13-15 

     Aren't they beautiful?  Go visit Nutmeg Nanny for more delicious recipes.

Hide-and-Seek: Grace For the Good Girl Week 4

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.  But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”  ~ Genesis 3:6-9

     Adam and Eve mistakenly thought that they could hide their nakedness and shame behind a couple of fig leaves.  Even as a child I guessed that God would notice something wasn’t quite right.  There wouldn’t be any fooling Him no matter how pretty those fig leaves may have looked.
     People still hide behind things as insubstantial as fig leaves today.  We try to make those fig leaves distractingly large and attractive.  Some of us cover ourselves with being “nice.”   We think if we appear good, good to God and those around us, no one will ever know our shame.  In truth, I am far more like the self righteous older brother than the prodigal son.
     We are trained to “be good” all of our lives.  There are rewards. We are given gold stars at school and more money for good performance at work.  Santa brings presents to the good little boys and girls.  We forget that Christmas isn’t for those of us who can meet some standard of goodness.  Christmas is for those of us who can’t.
     Jesus welcomed the sinners, the tax collectors, the adulterers, the broken.  The people who knew they needed a savior.  Jesus restored their wrecked lives with love and compassion.  The ones Jesus had difficulty with were the religious people, the good people, the people like me.
     But behind my fig leaves and before God I am broken, sinful and naked.  I am not okay.  I certainly am not good.  I am simply a sinner saved by grace.  It is the work Jesus completed on the cross that saves me.  It is a gift.  And I know it.
     We sing this song in church:

     How deep the Father’s love for us.
     How vast beyond all measure.
     That He would give His only Son
     To make a wretch His treasure
     I will not boast in anything.
     No gifts, no powers, no wisdom
     But I will boast in Jesus Christ
     His death and resurrection
     Why should I gain from His reward?
     I cannot give an answer
     But this I know with all my heart
     His wounds have paid my ransom ~ Stuart Townsend

     There is grace upon grace for every sinner.

 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ~ Colossians 3:2-3

     Where are you hiding?


Linking:  Blessed and Be Blessed

Liebster Award

     Regina over at Teach Me the Ancient Paths has nominated me for this award. Liebster means 'beloved' or 'dearest'. Regina is faithful to encourage me in my journey with blogging.  She visits me regularly and always leaves a kind comment.  Regina actively encourages women to dig into God's Word and pursue His calling on their lives.

Here are the rules that accompany this award:
1. If you are nominated and accept it, then you have won!
2. Thank the person who nominated you by linking back to their blog.
3. Nominate 5 blogs with less than 200 Followers.
4. Let the nominees know by leaving a comment on their blog.
5. Add the award image to your site.

      I would like to pass the Liebster Award to these Beloved Friends:

1. Ann at Harvest Moon by Hand.  Ann has been leaving encouraging comments for me since I began this blog last fall.  She is a photographer, a writer, and a crafter.  I am always inspired when I visit her.  For the year 2012 her family is committed to completing twelve activities that help people who are in need, animals, or the environment.
2. Jody Lee Collins at Three Way Light.   Jody and I have discovered we have some things in common. Jody is a special education teacher.   She is also new to blogging.  Jody and I both chose the word "Dwell" as our word for the year.  
3. Foursons Very funny.  Just reading the Everybody Loves Rocco series is hysterical.  Plus this talented lady has four sons.  Foursons gets boy humor.  Foursons was one of my very first visitors.  I appreciate her. 
4. Wendy at Each Card Tells a Story.  Wendy hosts Scripture Sunday Link Up.  A link up to encourage one another in our faith.  She is faithful and kind.  Her love for the Lord is apparent in her blog and I enjoy visiting her.
5. Sandy at Sandra Heska King.   This post alone would make a person follow her!  Sandy has great photography and a heart toward God.

Because every award needs a bouquet of flowers!

     Who blesses you?

Peepsqueak!

     As a parent and a teacher in an elementary school I am fortunate to get to read books with children.  Sometimes I even decide to read them with adults.  I shared Peepsqueak by Leslie Ann Clark with our church family on Sunday morning, assigning parts to audience sections.  

Audience Parts:  Right:  up, Up, UP 

                           Left:  down, Down, DOWN  

                          Middle:  into the soft green grass  

                          Because WHY?  All: He was on the move!

                                              

     If you are reading this book as a family or as a class you may wish to assign parts as well. 

     As soon as little Peepsqueak popped out of his shell, he was on the move.  He was determined to fly way up high.  Peepsqueak persisted despite other barnyard animals discouraging remarks.  Eventually with the help of a friend, Peepsqueak succeeds. 

The big stone wall looked like the perfect place to take off.  Peepsqueak jumped up, up, up!  And then he fell down, down, down  into the soft green grass.  My oh my! bleated Big Sheep.  You can’t fly high!

But Peepsqueak did not listen.

Because why?  He was on the move!    From Peepsqueak

     Have you ever wondered like Peepsqueak what it would be like to fly?  Wouldn’t it be cool to soar above the earth, bank over a forest, skim over rivers, dance through the clouds or dart through canyons effortlessly?  

Unfortunately, for us like Peepsqueak we have to deal with gravity.  We climb up and we fall down.  We have things that weigh us down.  There are problems and tests, bullies and people who say that we can’t, sickness and worries, pain and loss.  

 "To whom will you compare me?  Of who is my equal?" says the Holy One.  Who created all these?  He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name.  Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.  Do you not know?  Have you not heard?   The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;  but hose who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles;   ~Isaiah 40:25-31

     God wants us to soar on wings like eagles, or like Peepsqueak on Old Gray Goose.  When we entrust our lives to Jesus everything is changed.  God is bigger than any problem that weighs us down.  He draws us upward in faith and grace.  We no longer face our problems alone.  We no longer fall down, down, down.  He is with us and that gives us the strength to continue.  We will soar on wings like an eagle when we find our hope in Christ.  And maybe we’ll walk on the waves of pond water to His outstretched hand.  Because why?  He is on the move!

     How will you soar today?

     Leslie Ann Clark, and for that matter, Amazon, do not know me at all.  I am not being paid to mention this adorable book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

What Not to Wear

     When I was younger I used to buy a fashion magazine that had a page in it of women dressed in some unflattering outfit.  The pictures were taken surreptitiously.  The faces of these women would be blocked by a large black rectangle, as though that would make them completely unrecognizable.  Next to the picture of their fashion faux-pas would be captions like, “Did she escape from the circus?”   “Those yellow pants make her look like a taxi.”  or something else equally horrible.  I was always relieved not to be featured on that page.
     Recently, I saw a commercial for the TV show What Not to Wear.  I had to watch the show because the woman was wearing a sweater vest that I OWNED!  The vest was a fall/Halloween sweater with a tree, pumpkins, scarecrow, black cat, and picket fence.  Until that moment I had thought it was kind of cute.
     The premise of the show is that a person's friends and relatives turn the victim in for a make-over.  The two fashion divas arrive in a very public place, camera's rolling and completely embarrass victim about the outfit they are currently wearing and offer them $5,000.  toward a new wardrobe.  She is also shown secret videotapes of her wearing unflattering clothing taken by her friends.  Ouch!  Only the worst outfits and poses are shown.

     The poor woman on this particular show had all kinds of seasonal clothing.  She had sweaters with bunnies, snowmen, shamrocks, summer flowers, and Christmas trees.  It didn’t stop there, she even had bathrobes and dresses that continued the theme.  Elementary teachers (like myself) as a group tend to purchase just such lovely clothing items and I did have the afore mentioned vest, this woman however, worked in an office building with no children in sight.

     The misguided lady put on the fall vest for the fashion consultants to criticize.  Well!  I think the worst comment was, “When you put a picket fence around your hips it emphasizes the acreage.”  Yikes!  I vowed to get rid of my vest before the season changed.  By the time the lady had a whole new wardrobe, hair color and cut, and make-up, she looked wonderful.  Even she could see that her previous clothes were dowdy and dull compared to her new style.   The woman claimed that although the experience had been emotionally difficult,  that it had also been worth it.
     Most of the "improvements" made on this lady were to reveal her personality and true beauty.  As a woman of God, our outward beauty should reflect our inward beauty.

     Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of  gold jewelry and fine clothes.  Instead it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.             ~1 Peter 3:3

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” ~1 Cor 5:17 

You are altogether beautiful, MY darling, and there is no blemish in you ~Song of Solomon 4:7 

      So far, I have managed to avoid being in a magazine with a black rectangle over my face, but I think it may have been a near miss with a certain little sweater vest.
     Do you have a funny fashion story?  What outfit could have gotten you nominated for a TV show?