Reaching Out

The other night I was studying Ephesians 4:25-32. It is basically about anger management. Now on any given day that is a fascinating subject to talk about. But the verse that caught me was verse 28. It is partially about reaching out to someone.

First let me brag on my friend Diana. She reaches out to me even after I have pushed her away. By doing that she makes me feel so cared for, that I will always have someone that cares about me. You'd be surprised how many people pull back after it gets difficult.

Anyway, reaching out is one of our Christian duties. If someone doesn't respond right away, we shouldn't just give up or move on. This is where we should reach out to Christ and ask for guidance, compassion and patience. We should reach out to those people who pull away. Backing off a little if needed but still available and in their sights.

On the other side, pulling away from the Lord or family and friends is a sure fire way to disaster. Even when we want to enclose ourselves and hide from the world we should reach out. At the least reaching for the Lord in need or desperation. We are not alone and should not act like it.

I know this from personal experience and it helps ease things to not close yourself off (even though it's hard and hurts). When you close yourself off a cocoon forms around you and it buffers not only the pain but the light. The bigger and thicker the cocoon, the harder it is to come back.

On the argumentative side though, it is easier to withdraw sometimes than deal with people who are superficial and don't really care or don't want to reach out and get their hands dirty.

But again, by reaching out to someone, you may be their only light or lifeline in that dark tunnel that they find themselves in. Whether you know it or not you could be that persons only guide out of the darkness.

I know it's hard, we make it hard. But the rewards are more than worth it.

Sign of the Times 7

I have to say - It was so nice to see this sign. After hearing so much about the war on TV and how many men and women have lost their lives or have been wounded. It was nice to drive by this house and see such pride and love. No matter where you stand in the debate about the war - it is so nice to see that someone has made it home to his family. Into their open arms of love and comfort.

Can I?

I have a spaghetti sauce recipe that is very old that I have tweaked to make my own. I decided to make the homemade sauce to part of lasagna that I was making that night. Since I have been wanting to learn how to can, I figured this was as good a time as any. I would have extra sauce and I wanted to keep it for awhile for future meals. So I decided to begin my canning experience. I bought the jars and the utensils and made my sauce. I am so excited to know that not only did I make homemade sauce but I canned it as well. This might be silly but I feel like little miss suzie homemaker now. I love all the homemaker stuff. If I could I would be a stay at home mom and homemaker. I settle for weekend Mrs. Cleaver moments.

Anyway, I thought I would start sharing some of my recipes as part of my suzie homemaker moments. So I will start with the sauce.

First assemble all ingredients and utensils.

1 medium onion, diced

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 carrot finely grated

olive oil

2 (18 oz) cans of tomato paste

2 cans full of water from the tomato paste cans

1 (29 oz) can tomato sauce

1 (29 oz) can crushed tomatoes

2 Tbls. kosher salt

1/2 tsp. of pepper

2 Tbls. oregano

1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese (I use Kraft grated)

homemade meatballs

1. Make meatballs. Set aside.

2. Saute onion and garlic in a small amount of olive oil. Add carrot. Saute until tender, do not brown.

3. Combine tomato paste, water, sauce, and crushed tomatoes in a large roasting pan. Add salt, pepper and oregano. Using a whisk, make sure everything is mixed together.

4. Add sauteed onion, garlic and carrot mixture to sauce. Mix well.

5. Add 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese. Whisk gently.

6. Place meatballs in sauce. Gently push them into the sauce until they are covered.

7. Cover the roasting pan, and bake at 3oo degrees for 3-4 hours.

Please try it!!

Sign of the Times 6

Technically shouldn't this be every room? Shouldn't the sign be a little more hospitable? I mean it's just too much gray to be very hospitable - don't ya think? :-) More joy is needed in the hospitality room. And why is hospital in the word hospitality - I've never found hospitals to be very hospitable. Can you tell that I like saying hospitable!

LOL

At first I think this is funny - I have a teenager and putting him in the trunk seems funny to me. But then if you dig deeper - a tv is more important than their child/other human being. Sad really. AND yet....

WBIR Knoxville
Couple arrested for putting teen in trunk to make room for TV.
A man and woman were arrested in Cumberland County Monday after putting a teenager in a car trunk to make room in the car for a television.

The arrest came after authorities got a tip that a child had been placed inside the trunk of a car traveling down Peavine Road. Cumberland County Deputy Timothy Tutors stopped the car, and asked the driver, Cory A. McDaniel of Crossville whether he had anyone in the trunk of his car.

McDaniel said he did, and opened the trunk, where the officer found a 16-year-old boy. Deputy Tutors asked why the boy was in the trunk, and McDaniel explained that a TV he needed to transport wouldn't fit in the trunk, but the teen would.

There was a large TV in the back seat of the vehicle. Cory McDaniel was arrested on charges of reckless endangerment, and is currently free on $1,000 bond awaiting an April 28, 2008 court date.

Also in the vehicle was Rhonda Howard, the teenage boy's adult sister. Ms. Howard was also arrested on reckless endangerment charges, and is free on $1,000 bond awaiting an April 28, 2008 court date.

The Department of Children Services is investigating.