Tuesday, August 27, 2013

When "happily ever after" is fading fast

Matthew Chapter 7 verses 24-27



There is a song that goes along with this scripture that I teach the young children in our congregation. We teach them if they put their trust in God that they can overcome whatever comes their way. Sometimes we want to think that bad thing will never happen to us because we are believers in Jesus Christ. We want to believe that it is a fairy tale world that ends "happily ever after". Sometimes I want to kick the guy who penned the words happily ever after. It makes a nice ending for fairy tales, but I live in a real world with real people and no fairy godmother to make it all better, but I do believe in Jesus Christ and I have a hope for a brighter future. So I continue to build upon those things that I know to be true.


Sometimes we build upon the rock,and we have a bright hope for a brighter future, and other times the clouds are very dark and life can really beat us down. The scripture teaches us that if we build upon a sure foundation that when the wind blows and the storm comes we can stand firm upon that rock; but what happens when the storms of life are so severe that our house and the rock are both underwater? It seems that no one ever told you that your house on the rock could become and underwater adventure. 

Indoor flood pool. Photo from Facebook
Photo from Facebook

It is at these times my mostly positive attitude kicks in. It drives my husband nuts. He wants to sit and sulk and I am making jokes about it like, "Wow we have in indoor swimming pool" and so on. I am one that would rather laugh than cry in the midst of affliction, but sometimes you gotta cry.

But on the serious side, now what? What do you do when life seems to have taken you so far back that you are losing hope? It is at these times that I remember a poem that I learned as an early teenager

Don't Quit!
Author: Anonymous

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're traveling seems all uphill;
When the funds are low and the debts are high--
When you want to smile, but you have to cry,
When care is pressing you down a bit:
Rest if you must, but don't you quit!

Life is strange with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns.
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won--had he stuck it out!
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow!

Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tints of the clouds of doubt;
And you can never tell how close you are--
It may be near when it seems so far.
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit:
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit!


Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Confucius


When life tries to get you down, dig deep find your courage and keep on going for the sun will rise in the morning.
Photo courtesy of Microsoft images


Now it is your turn. What do you do in times of trial? Where do you find hope? Please share in the comments below so that others can be encouraged to find new hope and skills to help them through the rough parts of their journey. 


Some helpful links
wise man sheet music pdf
wise man mp3 accompaniment track

more photos from Philippines monsoon season


Thursday, August 22, 2013

cook and live like an Italian or Greek

Over the last few years there has been a buzz in the air about the "Mediterranean diet"  It is not really a diet but a lifestyle; a way of eating and living demonstrated in the areas surrounding the Mediterranean sea. High in heart healthy olive oil and fish this diet seems like a good idea to most of us here in the United States. Doctors on TV and other personalities have endorsed it saying, "these are some of the healthiest people on the earth". There are many books written about it. People have taken off and started cooking everything olive oil adding some fish and other good things along the way.

 The problem comes in the fact that we are still eating so many of the same foods as we always have. The diet is more than just adding olive oil and more fish to your diet.  It is full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seeds and nuts simply prepared. Some of the best foods are the simplest foods. It does not have to be complex. Simple good home cooked food this is what it is about. This is real living and eating.

It is a change in how, and what you prepare to eat. These people do not go to the grocery store and fill their carts with "dead food" like we do. They do not go to the market with a list of things that they should or should not eat based upon whatever the latest fad is.  They go to the market and let the fresh food guide. They take whatever is available that day and simply prepare it. They get inspired by the fresh fruits, veg, and seafood around them. It is not about any specific foods, it is about what is available locally that will nourish them and the family.  It is a different way of thinking about "what's for dinner?"


Family and community are a big part of this also. These people gather together to eat and feed the soul while feeding the body. They do not eat on the runThey do not multitask by eating in front of their computer. They sit and enjoy the meal together as a family and community. Eating is an enjoyable time, not just another thing to cross off the to-do list. It is not just about the food, it is about the lifestyle they live and the traditions they create. It is life unprocessed.

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What about you? How often do you sit down to a nutritious meal with those you care about? What kind of traditions are you creating in your life and family?


Monday, August 12, 2013

taking a short break

Thank you all for coming and reading here at life less hurried.  I enjoy sharing those things that I have found useful in my life. I hope that you are all inspired to go and change your world for the better when you leave here. I have decided to take a short break for a week or two so that I can focus on some end of summer activities with those people that I love and care for. I will be back to writing full time when School starts and I get the little ones settled and we get back into a routine that will allow me to do some good research and writing. 

In the meantime here are some blogs that I often visit and gain inspiration from. check them out  and give them some blogging love too. 

New life on a homestead
Granny's vittles
real food forager
intentionally domestic
money saving mom
juggling food and real life
our heritage of health

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Not so devilish deviled eggs

Deviled eggs are very yummy and easy to make. My version is slightly sweet and has only a little heat from the dry mustard. They are definitely not devilishly hot like some but they are more sweet and angelic like. They are wonderful for kids of all ages. 





 Not so devilish deviled eggs
makes 24 halves

12 eggs boiled peeled and halved with the yolks removed and reserved for the filling
Check out this post for instructions how to do this  hard boiled egg tutorial

For the filling
12 cooked egg yolks
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1/3 cup Mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2  teaspoons sugar
1 - 1 1/2  teaspoons dry mustard powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 small spoonful of sweet relish
parsley and paprika for garnish as desired



 Place the cooked yolks in a bowl
Mash yolks and the vinegar with a fork until no large lumps remain
mix the remaining ingredients with the yolks until smooth and creamy
spoon the filling mix into the egg white shell and garnish with the paprika and parsley

Keep chilled until ready to serve.


This post shared as part of real food wednesday


Monday, August 5, 2013

Are you lost without Google?

We are so dependent upon our electronic devices. Some of our young people  (and even adults) would love to have their devices permanently attached. It is crazy to think that we have become so addicted and dependent upon such things. If I was a teacher of the young people I would love to do an experiment; assign them to do a report with one requirement; it would be a report to be done  without the use of the Internet. They would be required to find the information the old fashioned way,  like going to the library and actually researching it out. It would be really interesting to see. I suppose I would see blank stares. Some would be shocked, "No Internet, how the ------?"


I am reminded of an episode of Star trek the next generation. It was a disaster situation, The medical staff has many people to treat.  They were treating a broken bone and the bone knitter was out of order. The staff was at a loss as to what to do without the use of the equipment that they were so dependent upon.  The Chief Medical Officer said, "Use a splint" To which was returned blank stares. She then had to explain the idea behind using a splint to heal a bone. Are we in the same type of situation?

We are so overwhelmed by the information out there.And our smart phones are making us dumb.We no longer remember  phone numbers or anything important for that matter. We rely heavily on our smart phones.  On several occasions I have heard "I don't remember what it is called; but Google it and you will be able to find it."  "Just Google it" is becoming a way of life. For example, When was the last time you cracked open a phone book to look for a phone number? Some of you are thinking, "Phone book?" Yes, phone book they still exist.

Photo courtesy of Microsoft images

I was reading an interesting article today (see the link below). It was about how It would take only a second for a nuclear bomb to be detonated high over the United States. It would send out an electromagnetic pulse that would render all our electronic gadgets useless. It would wipe out the infrastructure that we all depend upon. Many would be helpless. As a generation so dependent upon electricity and gadgets that do it all for us it would be devastating.

How self sufficient are you? Could you survive without a phone, the Internet, or electricity?  In this situation we would be back to basic living in an instant. It could be months or years before power was restored. Can you cook without a microwave or stove? How would you keep warm in the winter without a furnace working? Do you have any skills to survive and are you teaching them to your children? What would you do in this situation?    Don't think it can happen to you? check out a post from modern homesteaders A soldiers perspective.


The  link to above mentioned article is below
blackout for the nation