My parents, living in a Western State of the USA, asked me if I would put together some baskets for the family memebers here in the Southeast; I gladly obliged and in truth, it was fun to obtain the items and fill some baskets for loved ones. God is good and he works in mysterious ways.
It was super exciting to create the baskets for 6 people on behalf of my parents, including making an easter bucket for my godson/nephew, which included flower seeds and bulbs so as he starts to crawl and toodle around the yard, he has many blooms and colors to enjoy!
There is a song, titled “Unanswered Prayers” performed by Garth Brooks (the country pop star.) That I have enjoyed since I was young (I am not trying to give away my age here, I am a lady, afterall.)
The song describes/tells the story of a man whom prays that God would make the lady his, for all time.I prayed, often, that there would be someone to take care of me, and make things super easy and all would be easy street. I didn’t think God abandoned me but thought that my requests were unanswered.
In truth, the prayers didn’t fall on deaf ears but patience and in God’s great timing, the unanswered prayers will fulfilled, in not the way I was seeking but in the ways God knew I needed fullfillment.
How so? Relecting back, the prayers were answered, fulfilled, and exceeded. A friend of mine passed away and he left me a windfall, a method of giving me some financial footing in my life, something I was struggling to do myself, being taken care of, which, in turn, lead me to be able to do needed things in my life- as well as giving me a bit of security in financial savings. I did receive help, just not in ways I was thinking I need or expected.
Taking a moment to slow day and enjoy the day, with the cold, chilly weather outside. Being thankful, especially today, that I don’t have to work outside and have something lovely to enjoy; prayer time, and being thankful, in my opinion, can happen anywhere, any time.
Devoting time, each day, to prayer and quiet time has proven to be very good for me; it helps to strengthen my time with God and during Lent, I am striving to do more of this.
This morning, about 90 minutes ago, I struggled big time. My co-worker, in efforts to be super sweet and nice, offered me a McDonald’s breakfast sandwhich when she came into work. The sandwhich smelled wonderful; I really wanted to say yes and gobble it down with delight.
I politely declined, despite my tummy rumbling, my mouthing salvating with the warm aromas wafting from the paper wrapped food.. She asked if I didn’t care for McDonalds, I told her, no, I absolutely love McDonald’s breakfast sandwhichs but I am giving up fast food for Lent.Her face turned quizical in expression and I gave the brief description that Lent is the 40 days before Easter and many Catholics and Protestants give up something during this period as part of their faith and journey. I wasn’t expecting this struggle this morning at all.
While on my way to my job, I do pass several fast food chains to and from work. In the past, even recently, especially on the days I go to the Rec center to swim, I often imbibed and picked up a breakfast at one of the fast food chains;it makes things easier and tasty for me before I hit the lanes for laps. I can eat in my car (likely not a good habit to have anyway) and then realizse, as I evaluate my bank account weekly, just how much I am/was spending on fast food-especially lately as I have become passive, lazy about making breakfast for myself. But when does easy and convienent become a lifestyle? Why is this passively okay for when it’s not really okay as a norm? These are the questions I ask myself-and many more.
One lingering question, just a few days into Lent, is how do I make/cook more interesting food for myself? There are times, when I do need a quick meal, and I am learning that I need, at times, to practice better time management since I am eating solely homecooked meals at this point-with the exception of when I get invited to a family or friends house for dinner (or the like.) I didn’t anticipate that the struggle would also be with getting tired of my usual routine meals and recipes, especially so quickly.
While I did make myself breakfast (seen below), and while it settles down, I wonder, what easy meals can I make myself on short notice or with some prep work that are tasty and contian easily found ingredients? Please, do comment and share if you have ideas!
Multigrain Flat Bread
1 green onion
One small carrot shredded
1 tablespoon cream cheese
1/2 an avacodo
1 teaspoon parmesan cheese
Drizzle of Thousand Island Dressing
Left over Chicken breast shredded up
Spread the cream cheese on the flat bread, load veggies and avacado on top,add chicken, sprinkle parmesan and drizzle thousand island dress, roll up like a buritto. I also drank cold drip coffee with it. It was a B- meal.
Since I have given up fast food for lent, I am doing all of the cooking at home or going over to a friend or family for meals. Therefore I’m having to get creative. I was having a hankering for a fast food milkshake but that’s not allowed right now. I decided to make it healthier choice at home.
I gave up Dr. Pepper and fast food for lent, not a secret, but the lack of fizzy caffeine and sweetness is already greatly “missed” by my body.The fast food craving and hankerings haven’t kicked in, which I am thankful. A full glass of water and a little nap have helped to curb the headache but the craving remains.
The challenge, though, will come this evening when I return to work after a couple of routine days off. Why a challenge? There is a soda fountain and each employee gets unlimited free sodas from the fountain as a perk of the job, Dr. Pepper included. I really like Dr. Pepper. While there isn’t anything wrong with Dr. Pepper, it’s a fabulous product, I gave it up for Lent as I feel like I had become “dependent” on the product, drinking more of it than I would anything else, despite having lots of other options at home and other places, including healthier choices like herbal hot or iced tea, water, milk, or something different.
I have often packed my lunch for work before and now will continue to pack a lunch for myself each shift I work, using a cute Jurrassic World tin square lunch box I received as a Christmas gift. A bit of preperation and effort, meals at work will be delicious and as easy as fast food, but better for the mind and body, giving the proper nutrition for myself and time to focus on better things and spiritual growth.
A friend of mine is in support of giving up Dr. Pepper but inquired as to why do it for Lent;
Here’s a basic description of why we do it;
Fasting, or giving something up, is a very common practice during Lent. The idea is that giving up something that’s a regular part of life, like eating dessert or scrolling through Facebook, can be a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice. That time can also be replaced with more time connecting with God.
Lent has officiailly begun as of today. It’s 40 days until Easter morning, when Jesus will rise from the tomb, after being crucified and buried, he will rise again but until then, the period of Lent signifies the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert, fasting and praying.
Is this the “norm” for my blog? Not quite my standard, here at least, no. Adventures of faith is not a way I would describe it, as faith is a daily aspect for me and sharing is perhaps a better way of expressing it.
For inquiring minds, no, I am not Catholic (although my Sweetness is Roman Catholic). I was raised and remain Lutheran (the sect that broke off from The Roman Catholic Church during the Reformatoin in Worms, Germany when Martin Luther nailed the 95 Thesesis on the doors of the Church in Wurtemburg, Germany).
In many sectors of Christianity, the celebration of the Lenten period, giving up something “valuable” or adding something to positively change/alter the person’s life, as part of their faith, is often practiced in honor of Jesus’s time in the desert, leading up to his trial.
This year, after much prayer and consideration, I decided to give up Dr. Pepper (and I am a Dr. Pepper “junkie”) and fast food-while I am a big “fan” of nuggests and sub sandwhiches and really hot, deep fried french fries, I will forego these delights during the Lent period.
I am choosing to add something positive this year by working on my list of things to do, to make progress in my own life in good, positive ways, like finishing a knitted throw that I have been somewhat putting off and on for months, working on getting admitted to a local college to finish my bachelors degree, spending more time with my Godson (he is just a few months old), landing better employment to adequately support myself better and therefore reducing my stress (leaving my mind more open to better, stress free things.) The list goes on and on. Writing on my blog is another aspect of self-improvement and doing things that are good for me (even though I stress about spending quality time and such on myself, another aspect of doing better that will be worked on During Lent.) Stagnant, that is where my personal improvement and bettering myself has been as of late and Making Things Better is the positive aspect and component I intend of working on during Lent, to walk with Jesus more.
A new friend showed me a walking trail along the lake in Clemson, South Carolina, tucked away and out of sight unless you know where it is! The friends, being local, showed me the way and the easy access entry point, tucked away on a side street, one wouldn’t know it was there unless shown!
Johnothon and SheridanSwimming in the lakeEverybody goes swimming!Hanging out with Friends at Lake Hartwell on the walking trail, Clemson, South Carolina
Again, I chose to shop at Aldi’s and found a great price on Tuna Steaks.
I didn’t include the cost of the spices/seasoning as I already had a can of Tony’s in the cupboard.
1 Tuna Steak
1 Can of green beans (Aldi Brand)
1 can of new potatoes (whole, Aldi Brand)
1 large carrot, peeled and cut into short sticks
1 table spoon of olive oil
Sprinkles of Tony’s.
Simmer Tuna Steak and carrot sticks (same skillet) on low/medium heat, slowly until cooked through.
Warm up green beans and new potatoes in same skillet, season with salt and paper.
Put New potatoes and green beans on the bottom of two bowls, cut tuna steak in half and put half in each bowl, top with sautéed carrot sticks, serve hot.
My youngest brother came for a 2 week visit and, of course, a walk with coffee breaks had to be included! It’s always a joyous time to spend with loved ones with a bean buzz and fresh air. The sites and venues are always an added perk as well.
While here in the Upstate, I wanted to share some of the local awesome adventures with him…and he smiled the whole time. His smile lightens up the whole world and he is a fun, handsome guy (but I might be just a bit biased, being his sister and all!)
The photos are captioned of the places we attended. The conversations were endless!
Jitters Brewing and Bean, Central, S.C. Jonathon enjoyed a Cortado and pastry. I drank a lavender latte, delicious!Mexican Dominoes game with Papa, Belton, S.C. I lost horribly. Papa won big time. Downtown Anderson, S.C. The famous statue in front of the courthouseJonathon is being funny with Mr. WhitnerMy brother and I enjoyed a walk to Issaqueena FallsThe Infamous Falls My brother is being silly My brother is taking in the fresh air and singing to the falls The back end of StumpHouse TunnelA horse sculpture made out of old bicycles, The light at the end of Stumphouse TunnelThe entrance to Stumphouse tunnel
