I haven't posted in a long while and feel the need to reach out.


November hit with a bang. Just blew in before I was done with July.
     Have no idea how time moves so quickly - - - except that I am living life more fully these days.
I struggled through a long illness from last November until long about August I realized, "WOW, I finally got over all that pneumonia and staph infection."
     I seriously try to pack as much living as possible into a few days. Yes, you are right: it is exhausting. But oh so worth it.When it work.


Yesterday, we got an adorable picture of one of the great grands. She was desperately ill earlier this summer but has bounced back with vim, vigor, and vitality. That was a huge thanksgiving for us so life becomes even more precious.

Pumpkins in the field scream that my basil plant is going to be GONE / done / finished very soon. In Texas, the first freeze can hit with no warning in November and life changes whether we are ready or not. I am never ready to give up my fresh basil.



So, I am trying to beat nature at its own game. Not an easy task.

This is what my basil looked like in August. In spite of the heat and fresh basil went into most everything I cooked.

     

The August afternoon that I snapped this photo, I made Basil Oil. First time for me. Turned out pretty tasty.

      I heated some first class olive oil, threw in my chopped basil, and let it heat up awhile. Then strained it  into a clean jar. Yeah, just one. I thought my harvest would yield three jars but I've enjoyed the one. It stays in the fridge until I heat frozen chicken strips or make my fabulous fratatta.

      Sure enough, as soon as I turned the calendar to November, the weather forecast sounded ominous so Tuesday just before supper, I grabbed my garden scissors and went to work.

 There was enough healthy basil left for a good harvest to freeze.

 Gave it a good washing in the sink then let it drain awhile. I wish my pictures came with smell effects. Heavenly !!!

Grabbed a clean autumn kitchen town proclaiming the giving of thanks and gently dried the stalks. Striped the stems and finely chopped the leaves, sending even more aroma into the kitchen air.

 Stuffed the chopped basil into plastic ice cube trays, covered in filtered water, and let the freezer do its work.

  Couple of days later, dumped the frozen cubes into a colander....

 

....then quickly into zip lock bags....properly labeled and dated, of course !!!!

What a thrill. For all those winter soups and stews, my freshly frozen basil is handy to sweeten the pots !!!




         Now, IF I utilize my time properly--and HURRY---I have to cut some stems of my thyme and oregano. I'll tie each into a bundle and hang a different herb in seldom used closets. After a few weeks, I'll strip the leaves and store them in a jar I found at Wally World today!!! Imagine. How easy can that be? And fragrant !!! For the moment, I have to start a quick-soup for supper. Great recipe I'll share next time.

I'll leave you---any of my family and friends (cyber or in the flesh)  with one of my favorite thanksgiving scriptures. Today I'm taking it from "The Message." Philippians 1:1. 
" Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. "

Blessings with huge Thanksgivings,

Liz

  

Summer Reads

           The beginning of a new season changes the landscape, temperature, and often it changes my attitude. Remains to be seen.

          While I love and adore autumn—the colors, cleaner air, and harvest moons—many good things happened this summer and I am not completely ready to let go.

•  During the summer of 2013, I experienced a firm healing from the rigors of last winter’s major physical challenges. 
•   God celebrated the last day of summer by sending deep, soaking rains to much of drought-parched Texas. We are not out of danger yet, but the respite is pure Grace.
• The Texas heat intensified the rigors of bidding farewell to some friends who found rest in our Father’s arms.
• The dry, parched heat produced more fervent prayers in my own heart for other friends battling that dreaded and horrific Big C.  

           As I did prayer-battle with my Holy Father on behalf of friends and family, my human frustration and anger increased. It has been a mighty struggle. Thankfully, God can handle my human-ness and somehow, He is providing peace and grace that soothes the rough edges.

          I read the summer away. I found escape and comfort and solace in fiction. I needed to REST, which is HARD. I don’t know how. But, I tried. Reading helped.

          I had me a good ole fashioned reading party this summer. Of course, I MUST share my fiction finds with other readers.

          Keep in mind that my always number one remarkable most WOW!!! He Did It Again fiction author is NICHOLAS SPARKS. Oh my, this ole heart of mine would jump up and dance if I could write one short chapter sorta / kinda / even close to just five paragraphs of Nick’s work. However, I read ONLY one of his screeching novels this summer: The Best of Me. It wasn’t my all-time favorite but glad I made the journey.

         My real excitement came from new-to-me authors. All are Christian fiction writers which turned out to be good. I seldom ever read “inspirational Christian romance.” But, any shade in a hot summer! Here, in order of my best of the best awards, is my summer reading list. I’d love to hear about your favorite reads.

          1.  Sharon K. Souza *****

                    Lying on Sunday:  excellent story; my absolute favorite; brilliant writing; great crafting; believable characters; Christian fiction that is outstanding.

                    Every Good and Perfect Gift; well-written, surprising story line, beautiful characters; 

                   Unraveled: Sharon’s usual good writing—each of her books has a different and distinct character voice so the reader is never bored; this one has more humor

          2.  Patti Hill ****

                    Goodness & Mercy: my second favorite; took awhile to figure out where the story was going (and could have been my problem, not the author’s), then I got hooked and forgot I was reading fiction; excellent Christian fiction.

                    Seeing Things: honesty demands I tie this one with “second favorite;” this story of a 70-something is so accurate, the reader believes that the author, Ms Hill, must be an old woman—which she is NOT; hilarious, delightful, sad, beautiful, bitter, charming; definite Christian fiction but written with class and believability.

          3.  Heidi Kreider ***

                    The Secret of Counting Gifts (Liz’s Legacy): Heidi’s writing kept me glued on this one; the story of friendship and faith with a surprise ending; beautifully written.

          4.  Melinda Evaul *

                    Grow Old With Me: a believable main character, easily understood; good story line; Ms Evaul writes well as far as inspirational Christian romance goes. 

          5.  Rose Ross Zediker *

                    Lily of the Field: a well-written sweet story, but, again, inspirational Christian romance is not my favorite genre…..too often not believable.

          6.  Heather Hunt

                    Aging with Gracie; again…honesty calls; a Christian fiction but I have not finished this one; it did not grab me, or compel me to keep turning the pages; I might try to finish it; if I do, I’ll report again.

So. Is it a deal????? I gave you my honest opinion. What was YOUR most FAVORITE summer read?????

Let us always depend on the Perfect Book,

Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.  Psalm 119:105 NAS

Blessings to you from the most Human of all His Children,

            Liz

  P. S. I found all the above books on Amazon for the Kindle on my iPad. What a deal !!!

Great Grandmother Stays at Home - praying.....

Sometimes, it just seems too much.
Sometimes, it just seems like praying is not enough.
Sometimes, it just seems.... just sooo hard.

Of course, PRAYING is our best and only defense.

Of course, PRAYING is the thing that must ALWAYS come first.
Before anything else.
In place of any other thing or act.
WITHOUT CEASING.

One of our precious ones lost her father-in-law last week, suddenly, with no warning.
To pneumonia.

Today that same precious one's very own toddler has serious pneumonia.
T E R R I F Y I N G.

Be still and KNOW... and KNOW... that I am God. That I AM that I AM and always have been and forEVER SHALL be.
The Alpha. The Omega. The First. The ONLY.
Still. . . terrifying.

The grandparents are enroute. 
We old ones ---- 'can only' sit. And pray.

We are, Holy Father, just Your human children. We are frail. We do worry. And fret. And toil.
Help us to trust YOU. Help us to remember the lilies of the field and how you made us in Your image.

The world is in trouble, Father. This one touches home. It is real. It is close.

We SHALL NOT be afraid.

        'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. . . .

         Do not let your hearts be troubled. . .

         and do not be afraid.'

Jesus Himself said that. St. John recorded it for us in John 14:27. I can trust it.

When all I can do is pray, I pray.

Times 29=

      ..... Grandson celebrates a birthday;

      ..... Grandson celebrates a birthday;

      ..... Great Grandson goes to college. For the first time Mom & Dad & Brother at home without him.

      ..... Great Grandson celebrates a birthday (first birthday away at college)

      ..... Granddaughter and Great Grandson tackle 8th grades

      ..... Granddaughters begin new years teaching new classes

      ..... Grandson begins another year in seminary 

      ..... New Jobs; dangerous jobs; old jobs; travel

      ..... New & different situations and challenges

      ..... Brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, moves, hurts, regrets,

      ..... In-laws to the above

. . . .and the list goes on. For each of us. But at the top of MY list is the one who is the most sick.

And yet . . . we WILL give thanks and rejoice and be glad.

Psalm 40:16

But may all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; may those who long for Your saving help always say, “The Lord is great!”

And ALL the people said

AMEN and AMEN and AMEN

Liz  

       Because this one great grandmother could ONLY sit and pray.

20 Weeks vs Whose Rights????

Those of you who read my blog—and those of you who know me well—will be surprised at my post today. I seldom take a stand on either side of controversial issues. You can name any current issue and I guarantee you I will have dear friends or precious family members on BOTH sides of that issue.

Perhaps I am wrong, but relationships are far more important to me than arguing about things we will most likely never change.

And you are right: today is an exception.
The issue is summed up at CNN Politics (www.cnn.com/2013/07/03/politics/texas-abortion-battle : "...HB2, a bill that would impose strict new regulations on abortions in the state. The measure seeks to ban abortions past 20 weeks of gestation, mandate abortion clinics to become ambulatory surgical centers, and require doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic at which they're providing abortion services...."
 

For weeks, local television news has reported the bill will deny women their right to choice.

My question: What does 20 weeks have to do with women's rights?

In my mind: absolutely nothing.

 

At about 39 weeks, most full-term babies go—kicking and screaming—into life outside its mommy's safe, nurturing, nourishing womb.

Do the math.

                39

       -        20
               19
Almost HALF.

Might come as a surprise to some who know me, but I am WOMAN.

And, I believe, ABSOLUTELY AND STRONGLY

... in equal pay for equal work (I know firsthand that sometimes women do MORE than their fair share)

 ... that you don't hit me just 'cause you're stronger than me

… it is good for women to be in the pulpit

… that it’s a very good thing when dads take the Mr. Mom shift

 ... that women are smart … (and often smarter than  the average guy. Just sayin…)

... and etc etc and etc

You are also right if you expect a story to explain my hard line on killing babies at 20 weeks.

Long ago in the land of young parenting, in prehistoric 1965, my young husband and I (even younger) were pregnant and thrilled that our five-year-old daughter would soon be a big sister. Happy doesn’t tell it !!!

By my 12th WEEK, I knew. For sure that time. Getting pregnant had not come easily.

I had a history of irregular everythings and a history of not able to keep a baby after about six weeks. Nobody knew for sure or exactly how “far along” I was, but it was agreed I was at least past three months. Which was remarkable. And gave me hope. And I believed that this time - - - -

I knew that our BABY was real and very alive. In another few weeks, our baby moved. The hands of my mother and mother-in-law went immediately to work creating magical baby things.

Then, one day, my belly got quiet. We waited, we prayed, we waited.

NOTHING.

Another day: cramps. Pain. Bleeding.

The third day, full-blown labor.

And tears. Hot, angry, tears that had nothing to do with physical pain.

Tears turned to sobs.

Pain. Hospital. Pain.
Then . . .NOTHING.

In those days, my baby was just “it;” my baby was just a fetus.

                    To everyone but me and my young husband and our parents.

In those days, we did not count by weeks.

In those days, disappointed mommies did not grieve.
In those days, a miscarriage was sad but… just a miscarriage.

My precious mother-in-law sat with me, afterward, for long hours, in the hospital. Quietly.

Once, I saw her tears.
She held my hand and stroked my arm, tenderly, gently.

My heart was ripped out. My body had carried a baby. A real, live, person. My baby had wiggled inside me. It was ALIVE. “It” was only . . .

About FIFTEEN WEEKS old.

Now, you tell me..... Because I don't understand......

Why is it that some folks say:

....... if  a state chooses to protect the LIFE of a real, ALIVE human being at TWENTY WEEKS ...... The state is denying the rights of a woman...... ?????

 20 weeks is more than half way to birth.

I realize that way back in 1965, medical science did not work the miracles with premature babies that it does today. Had I carried my baby just FIVE weeks longer, he could have survived outside my womb.... TWENTY WEEKS.

My baby would be 47 years old this year.

No, I can't second guess God as to why, what -if, if-only.

I only know that on that August afternoon in 1965 in Carlsbad, New Mexico, I lost a REAL life.

One day we will meet in person.

Until then..... I wonder.... 20 weeks ....

....what does that have to do with the rights of a woman?

 That young husband, our little girl, and this young mother had a long, long wait and another “miscarriage.”  But, God did hear our prayers and in 1970 on a bitterly cold January morning in Texas a very LIVE son was born to us. Our Eddy was absolutely worth waiting for and is a pride to our hearts and souls.

For all those babies who don’t live beyond 20 weeks, God will bless you and keep you. Forever.

For all my young friends whose empty arms ache, I pray Psalm 20:4 & 5 with you:

          “May He grant you your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your counsel! We will sing for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.”

In love and kindness,

      Liz

No, Never... uhhhhh... well

       I'm at home sick, today. Of course, as an old retired granny, I'm always home, but today I could not take Dear Heart to an out of town doctor's appointment (we deeply THANK his "little brother" for providing assistance). Seems I've got another "upper-respiratory-something" and it's hard to lie down or walk upright so this is a good time to let my fingers do my walking and try to reconnect with good cyber friends.

       It has become apparent in recent months that I've crossed a BROAD line in the sand and that I NOW DO things I promised myself and all of humanity I would NEVER EVER sink to doing.

HA !!!!

1.  WHOSE FEET ARE THOSE ??????????????

 

 

Yeah, those are MY feet

 

So, you ask, what's the problem? Duhhhh.... Liz in SNEAKERS..... and wearing ...... (oh my goodness I can't watch) LOW CUT SOCKS. ???????????

 

2.  It never, ever occurred to me that I would so much as even go to my kitchen in the mornings without perfectly applied make-up???? Worse, LEAVE HOME without makeup??? No matter the time of day, destination, or miscellaneous excuses. NO. NEVER. NO WAY. NOT ME.
No, I am NOT posting a photo.

 

3.  Never in all my years since being about 15 have I GONE ANY PLACE  sans ear rings. Dear Heart has had to turn the car around on one or two occassions I forgot. But.... not this chick or old lady. ('nuff said)

 

       While confession is not necessarily good for my soul, somehow I though it might help me muddle through these--hopefully finalal--days of still recovering from last winter's health ordeals.

       Perhaps my admissions will even encourage ME, MYSELF, and I to get back on my self proclaimed path to

Grow Old Gracefully.

       As long as "we" are fearlessly and honestly sharing . . . . do any of you, my faithful and beautiful readers, have any of your own: Now I'm Doing What I Said I Would Never Do things you want to share ???? If you dare to go bravely into admission, we'll have some fun sharing. Not to worry..... I will NOT include names. Promise.

 

The best part is that my prayer today, for you and for me, is that we will

humbly practice the presence of our holy and loving Father God.

 

L i z