Wisdom From the Word

During the year of our engagement, Keith and I read through the bible using the YouVersion app, ending on our wedding day.  It was a wonderful thing for us to share and it truly led us to many deep discussions on our faith and what we felt God was teaching us through His word. In our first year of marriage, we read through the New Testament during the season of Lent. For our second year of marriage, we decided to read through the bible again, however, this time we decided to read through it chronologically.  Wow. I am a lifer...meaning, I've grown up in the church. I attended a Christian University and took amazing Bible classes from wonderful professors, authors, scholars, and friends. How have I made it through 35 years of my life without studying the Bible chronologically? The fault is truly mine. At the same time, I am not sure if I would have truly appreciated it then as I do now.

In the past weeks, we have been reading about Saul and David.  Saul...a godly man who allowed his insecurities to quite literally consume him.  And no matter how David pleaded with him, pledged his allegiance to him, showed him that he truly meant him no harm...Saul's heart was always hardened. And why? Because he proved himself to be unworthy of being God's anointed. And David. We are seeing him in what you may call the more "peaceful" part of his life (knowing what lies ahead). He has killed Goliath. He is God's anointed. He has been a warrior for God through his endeavors for Saul.  In fact, that is what has gotten him into trouble with Saul.  But how would you feel if you were the king and people were singing that while you had killed thousands...your protege has killed tens of thousands?

We've all been there, right?  You're in school or at work and you're in a meeting.  And there's always going to be that guy. You know, the one who is an overachiever?  Or maybe it's that mom whose daughter is always dressed so cute...and keeps her hair bow in all day. While you had to pin your daughter to the floor just to get her out of her pajamas, all the while throwing what you are sure is the BIGGEST fit known to man, and eventually giving in and letting her wear rain boots and a backwards cap because it wasn't worth the fight. Perhaps you've come down with Facebookcomparativitis. You know, the disease that has you constantly scrolling through your social media...comparing your life to the lives you see your friends posting? That one is a hard one because it just keeps coming. 

Can I tell you a couple of secrets? First, we all do it. We compare ourselves, our spouse, our children, our family, and the list goes on. And all it ever does is leave us empty and wanting. Second, no one's life is as perfect as it appears on Facebook. Some people have children who love hair bows and ruffles. Some people have children who refuse to be anything but themselves. But I can tell you that for every perfect picture you see posted, there is another one where babies are crying, and parents are stressed! Don't get caught up in the disease of comparison living! You know what it did to Saul, right?

No? Well, he didn't fare well. He was wounded by the Philistines and eventually fell on his own sword after seeing two of his sons die. As for David? 2 Samuel 1:11-12 "Then David and all of the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them. They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord and for the nation of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword." (NIV) Truly. This man who had relentlessly pursued David and tried to kill him on several occasions...and this was David's reaction to hearing of his death. He was shattered. The love David had for Saul and Jonathan is to be admired. How many of us would be capable of that amount of compassion and forgiveness?

The chronological bible that Keith and I are reading goes straight from that to detailing the continuing fight between Saul's house (primarily his son Ish-Bosheth) and David's with David growing stronger and the house of Saul growing weaker. This power struggle between God's anointed and the house of Saul wore on David as we see in Psalm 6 (which follows 2 Samuel 4). David says in v3 "My soul is in deep anguish, How long, Lord, how long?" (emphasis mine). The Psalms that follow: 8, 9, 10, 14, 16, 19, 21, show a watershed of emotions from David. From weariness of battle, to praise for strength, to love, to weary again.  David felt trapped in the waiting room.

Friends, I have been there...haven't you?  We are all God's chosen...anointed in baptism to live our lives for him. And just as David waited 15 years after being anointed to take his proper place...some of us have been waiting. How long will we wait? There is no easy answer. But it is what we do during the waiting that is so important. So, brothers and sisters, while I'm in the waiting room I'm going to pray and serve and pray some more...and sometimes I may even cry or scream...and then I will pray again and serve again and love again. I find that when I focus less on myself, I tend to find the joy in God's word, and even in the waiting. What will you do while you're waiting?

March Madness: Things I'm currently crazy for...

When I decided to reboot and redesign my blog, I decided to add a blog every few months highlighting some of the things that I'm really digging at that moment.  My sweet sister friend Hope does a great post on her blog called "7 on the 7th" and she always has so much fun with it, I decided to join in with my own spin.  There are no specific numbers on any of my posts...one time it may be six things, the next time it could be twenty! So, without further delay....let's get to my first Favorite Things blog!!

1. As if you didn't see this one coming! I am a Kentucky girl, born and raised.  For me there is only one college team from a city starting with the letter "L" that truly matters...The UK Wildcats! I've been sharing the tradition of UK fandom with my dad and brother for years! I love attending games with them, watching games on TV with them, even texting during games when we aren't together! Let's just say that I truly believe this is our year...again! And I've even gotten Keith to root for UK! At least where basketball is concerned. He'll be a Georgia Bulldog football fan till the day he dies. I recently tried to get his approval on a future daughter's name: Callie Perry McCain...but he was quick to see right through that and said absolutely not.

2. My other favorite Kentucky team is the Murray State Racers. My parents got Jamie season tickets as an early Christmas gift a few years back and whenever my dad was unable to go, I would take Jamie. I love being able to share something with him, and we have been hanging out at Racer games for the past few years! Several times I will just go along with Dad and Jamie. It's been more difficult since moving to Memphis, but I still got up there plenty this year and even managed to take Keith along.  In fact, I'm typing this blog while watching the Murray St/Tulsa game for the 2nd round of the NIT.  And I love this kid... #pleasedontgoprocampayne

3. Oil pulling.  Have you tried it? Think it's crazy? Well, let's just say that my husband has Type b flu, and I haven't even felt a smidge sick.  (I probably owe a little of that to my essential oils too.) Please read the benefits of oil pulling! Teeth whitening is just the tip of the iceberg! 

4. Spiced Cinnamon Chai tea with raw honey.  This is my every morning drink. Then throughout the day I try to stick with water. I love the spiciness of the tea with a slight sweetness of the honey.  It's great with a drop of Thieves from Young Living Essential oils when you're feeling under the weather.

5. Dryer Balls. Have you tried these? I received these as a Christmas gift from Hope. (Have you read her blog? Go read it now!) I like these for the fact that they are better for the environment, you can add a drop of essential oil to infuse into your laundry, and you can wash them! 

6. Chia Seed. Another super food.  I add these to my Greek yogurt or fruit. If you make your own granola, try adding some! Add them to your smoothies as well. They give a little crunch and are a great source of fiber. 

7. Fruit salad and antiques.  The presence of truly fresh fruit is making it's way back into my life, and I am so thankful! I try not to eat fruit late in the day, as it takes the body longer to break down the sugar, but I don't cut it out of my diet.  Also, as most of you know, my father in law passed away a couple of weeks ago. While we were in Iowa for the funeral, my sweet mother in love wanted to give me a few things that were in her family. This vase is one of those things.  Isn't it beautiful? I love the floral design and I can't wait to put fresh flowers in it and add it as a centerpiece to our table. There's nothing better than sentimental pieces handed down through generations. I can see this vase in a rustic farmhouse on sprawling acreage in Iowa, a prized possession of a new bride turned into useful pitcher for her four children. I love the hands that have cared for this piece and hope to preserve it for generations to come.

8. Kombucha. The fermented drink! A word to the wise....DON'T shake it.  I've tried a lot of different brands and this one is my current favorite. Lemon Ginger Raspberry is a little summery slice of heaven.  Kombucha has a lot of health benefits. If you're looking to make some changes, consider adding this drink! PS...you can also make it yourself, although I've never been brave enough to try.

9. Statement jewelry with a perfect manicure.  I don't wear a lot of necklaces, but I love a good statement ring! This one is definitely making a statement. I think the statement is "Don't mess with me!" And the mani is OPI color Malaga Wine. It's a beautiful deep purply red, I love this color on short nails.

10. Diane Sawyer's interview with Julie Andrews.  Just to show how important this event was to me, I put it in my iPhone. I don't use my calendar...at all. I use my life planner, but I don't typically set my alarm for anything on my phone...but I set it for this. I think that "The Sound of Music" and "Mary Poppins" are my all time favorite movies from my childhood.  I loved this walk through the chapel. I think that if money were no object, I would've flown all my friends and family over and Keith and I would've been married there. I.Love.It. 

11. Sweet treats.  When your husband has been though what mine has been through the last two weeks, and then ends up with the flu on top of it all, he deserves a GiGi's cupcake.  And when your husband is sick and you are trying to take care of him, you deserve a GiGi's cupcake.  Have you had their Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough cupcake?! Y'all...the icing tastes just like cookie dough. And there is a mini cookie on top of it. It's okay when you are eating healthy to have a treat every once in a while! Y'all, y'all, y'all...you need to eat this cupcake. Well, not this one. I'm getting ready to save this blog for tomorrow, eat my cupcake, and enjoy watching the Racers put the final nail in the coffin of Tulsa's season. Just another reason #racersdeservedabid 

So, that's it for me...what are some of your current favorite things?

Foodie Friday...errr....Tuesday

Well, there goes that New Year's Resolution!

I had set as my goal, to post a Foodie Friday every 3rd Friday of the month.  Well, here it is, the second month of 2015...and I'm running three days behind! lol

Oh well...I spent the entirety of last weekend snowed in at my parent's in Kentucky.  And for that, I am okay with being behind a couple of days.  :)

But, believe me...this post is worth the wait!! Today, I bring to you, the amazingness that is.....

Bone Broth

I know...some of you are saying, "What?!" But I am serious.  If you have not at least looked into this amazing dish, with so many varieties, you are missing out.  Not only does it have amazing health benefits, you can utilize it in many ways.  If you'd like to read about the benefits of bone broth, you can do so here and here.  And these are just two articles that I found helpful out of the thousands out there singing the praises of this miracle soup. They also include recipes or links to recipes. But today I am going to share with you one I learned from a friend who is Vietnamese and makes variations of these broths every week.

Let's start with the basic bone broth.  For this broth, we used organic grass fed marrow bones (I know...right? But I'm not asking you to eat the marrow, just harness it's goodness!). Add marrow bones to large stock pot and cover with water (leave room for it to boil). Add to that a couple of quartered onions, a couple of quartered shallots, two large carrots (chunked), and fresh ginger. Now, what Christine does is takes the whole ginger root (2-3 inches long) and cuts it in half, adding both halves.  Most recipes call for less ginger, but it adds great flavor to the broth and has wonderful digestive benefits.  As far as spices go, I only added salt and pepper. But you can add anything natural that you like. The key to bone broth is to boil it low and slow.  You can also prepare this in a crock pot, as long as you have one that is large enough.  According to one of the articles I linked to above, you can cook the broth for up to 48 hours.  I know, right? But I promise it will be worth it.  A layer of fat will congeal at the top of the broth, always skim that off the top.  

Once you've finished cooking the broth, you can strain it and drink it as is, 8-12 ounces per day, first thing in the morning.  However, you can also use it to create great dishes with Asian flair.  What I did in the above photo is an example of just that.  I took rice noodles, which can be put into a bowl and with hot broth placed on top, that is all the cooking they need! You can also dip them into boiling water for about 30 seconds to rehydrate them.  To the broth and the rice noodles, I added quartered organic meatballs (pre-cooked).  Then comes the fun part, the toppings.  This broth really benefits from some crispness.  For this bowl, I chopped large leaf cilantro (my FAVORITE!!!) and green onion.  I also added a little fried red onion that can be picked up at any Asian market. You could also add bean sprouts. Those really add a great crunch. I recommend eating with chopsticks and a large spoon.

My friend eats some variation of this for breakfast and lunch almost every day. She is very healthy and very adventurous with her stocks! She uses chicken feet, marrow bones, Cornish game hens, and a lot of things I have not been brave enough to try.  But I am slowly gaining ground in my foodie adventures and hope you are up for the challenge!

xoxo, 

Rhi

Foodie Fridays Are Back!!!!!

One of my New Year's resolutions was to devote more time to the blog and to do it in a way that would allow me the best use of both my time and my words.  One of my favorite things about the blog was my decision last year to do a "Foodie Friday" post.  However, I found that writing a recipe post every Friday was too time consuming. My solution has been to post a Foodie Friday on the 3rd Friday of every month.  Hopefully this will work out and I will have more success sharing recipes from my family's table! 

I love to cook.  I love going to Farmer's Markets and picking out fresh meats and produce.  I like trying new things and using new tools.  Do they always work out favorably? No. Absolutely not. But that is part of the fun of experimenting in the kitchen! This year my husband and I are both devoted to taking better care of ourselves physically.  We believe whole heartily the saying that you can't out work a bad diet.  If we don't decide to be more conscientious of our food, then we will never be successful in this endeavor.  

We decided to adopt a 75% Paleo lifestyle.  Paleo is pretty hard core, so I believe that we can transition well if we don't start off by shooting ourselves in the foot.  Therefore, we will be eating Paleo, but we are allowing ourselves Quinoa, Greek yogurt, 1 or 2% milk occasionally, and shredded cheese only when sprinkled on salads.  We also are allowed to eat sprouted grain bread, or Ezekiel bread.  For the most part, our diet consists of fresh meats and whole vegetables.  One night a week, typically on a Saturday date night, we are allowed a cheat meal.  

Since deciding to change our eating plan, I have been experimenting more with spices and cooking techniques.  Let's face it...no one wants to eat baked chicken and vegetables every night.  

We received a wok as a wedding gift...and I absolutely love it! I made the following chicken stir fry using our wok and while it turned out pretty well, there are a few things I would change.

 We tend to buy meat when we find it on sale, so we are buying larger portions than I would typically use when I am just cooking for the two of us.  Therefore, when I get home from the market, I try to portion out the different meats and label them, so that I am not having to defrost eight chicken breasts, when I only need two.  It may make for a longer afternoon, but it is totally worth it.

For this recipe I simply cubed two chicken breasts, and sliced thin several zucchini and an onion. These were the veggies I had on hand, so that is what went into the stir fry.  I used a tablespoon of cold pressed coconut oil. (If you are using any other oil, you should stop right now! It is so good and really good for you.) I allowed it to melt in the wok and then added several different spices, fresh garlic, Liquid Aminos (like a vegan soy sauce), and the chicken.  I allowed the chicken to brown and cook through, then added the veggies to stir fry together.  While the chicken was going, I added a cup of dry quinoa to a pot with two cups of  organic chicken stock.  You can make quinoa with water, but it is so much better when you use a stock as your liquid.  Bring that to a boil, turn down, and let it simmer for about 20 minutes.  Once the liquid has left the pot of quinoa, simply use a fork to fluff it and you are ready to go! 

Once everything is finished, simply layer the quinoa on a small plate (helps with portion control) and spoon your stir fry on top. 

Now, my only regret is that I started the quinoa late, therefore I left the veggies in the wok too long, so they got too soft. I prefer them to be crispy and more in tact...but I will just alter my methods the next time! All in all, we got a really filling meal, that cost us around 250-300 calories.  

Hopefully, this time around, I will be more successful with my posting and give recipes that can encourage readers to gather together around the dinner table and share meals that are not only delicious, but good for you as well! 

As for tonight, my husband made a delicious frittata...I may just make him the star of my next Foodie Friday blog!