The Last Rose of "Summer"

One of the surprises awaiting us when John and I drove home as newlyweds for the first time was a rosebush.  Near it was a card--it was a wedding gift from John's realtor!  I like this realtor.  :-)  The name of the rose is "Double Delight," fitting for a wedding gift, and very fragrant and lovely.  There were a couple of buds on the bush when it came to us, and as they opened it became apparent that its name comes from its color.  While the bud is a vibrant pink, when it bursts forth into full bloom, the dominant color is a creamy white, with its first pink petals singing back-up vocals along the outside. 

Besides dumping water on it occasionally and moving it to the sun, I neglected the rosebush for the first couple of weeks in favor of more pressing house-matters.  Finally, when things were somewhat settled and I discovered that we did indeed have a digging-type-of-shovel, I had no more excuses.  Without realizing it, John even pushed me toward action by some reverse psychology . . .

"We probably don't even need to plant it.  We can just enjoy it the way it is."

"But it will eventually die!  And it would be sad to lose a rosebush." 

I listened to my own voice of reason, picked up some bone meal and potting soil and started digging, hoping it would "take" to its new home in our little backyard. 

It did. 

And now, though it seemed to be done for a season, the third of a recent series is in full array, her head drooping with her own weight on this rainy day. 

I think it will be a good day for baked beans and sweet potatoes.  I hope the beans get soft this time.

My little herbs are still growing, too!  The cilantro is growing several frilly, characteristic leaves, and the parsley is starting a few of its own. 

Recent Kitchen-Doings

Monster Cookies

They used to make Monster Cookies (I think they called them "Montana Monster Cookies," am I correct?)  at Grove City and they were AWESOME!  I thought they would be fun to try for Heidi's birthday, and wouldn't you know, Southern Living had a recipe for them!  Even more exciting, they don't actually have any flour in them, but they do have an entire (16 oz.) jar of peanut butter and several cups of oats.  And M&M's, obviously.  :-)  The KitchenAid did most of the work for me, but I didn't want to overdo it, so I ended up doing some of the final mixing with my hands!

Looking up Southern Living on amazon.com just now made me realize even more how blessed I am.  During the summer of 2008, John and I were not engaged yet, but I knew that I loved him and was probably going to marry him.  This led me to do some "serious" thinking.  That means I'll be moving to a different state.  I'll get to cook all the time.  I won't have Mom's Southern Living cookbook anymore!  So, I went online and found it barely used for less than $3, plus something like $4 shipping.  And it was a hardcover copy!  At the moment, there appears to be nothing posted so low!

Anyway, here's the next pic. 

Guacamole!

And thanks, Derek, for going to Costa Rica and teaching us how to make it!  I don't think this came out as good as yours, though.  Can you tell I left the pits in like you taught us?  :-)

Last night, I also packed up our Operation Christmas Child box, bringing back more sweet memories from Grove City days.   

Happy Birthday, Sis!

"If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans"

Keith (John's best friend/best man) took this photo last night and I love it.  :-)

I've been wanting to post about the movie Bella (2006) because, in my opinion, it's amazing!  As soon as John sees that I'm posting on this movie, he will probably groan.  That's partly because it's serious and, at times, very sad.  "But it's beautiful!" I always protest.  He agrees with me, but he's a (wonderful) guy and an engineer, so he doesn't usually choose a movie for its beauty. 

Contrary to imdb, I wouldn't say that it's a love story, at least in the eros sense of the word.  Contrary to the DVD cover, I wouldn't say that it's about a "gorgeous" waitress in New York City.    There's a lot of love in that film, but it's more like agape love, and the waitress, Nina, is portrayed as an ordinary girl.  It does take place in "the city" and there is a lot of color and Spanish (with subtitles), though the movie itself is in English.  When I saw it for the first time with Heidi, she warned me to pay close attention from the start, and she was so right!  Not only does it begin with the excellent words "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans," but the artistry of the cinematography is stunning.  Every moment counts.  That's impressive coming from what I believe is a small film company.

The story is compelling, inspiring, and expertly thought-provoking.  There is a strong pro-life theme, but it's not done in a preachy or obvious way.  In fact, the movie is more about people, and the viewer is drawn to admire Jose, played by Eduardo Verástegui, for the man that he is and the love that he is not afraid to act upon.

If I were much younger, I probably would have had a hard time watching it because of the weight of the plot.  It was hard enough for me to watch the first time last year as it was!  But now it is among my top favorite movies ever, followed closely, perhaps, by the vastly different Harvey with Jimmy Stewart. 

When Heidi and I watched it for my first time last spring, we were making headpieces for the flower girls. Seeing it again reminds me of those times, and they're very sweet memories!

(This photo taken by Rachel Tribunella)

Light of God

I am quickly beginning to love the music of Keith and Kristyn Getty more and more.  One reason I love it is that it's proof that there are some hymns being written today that are doctrinally substantial and not merely emotional.  Another reason is that they're Irish.  :-D  And, finally, it's just plain beautiful and true. 

We sang this one in church last Wednesday and Sunday.

Light of God

Light of God, come dwell within Your people, as intended from the dawn of time.
Make Your goodness, echoed through creation, our desire; Joy of the Divine. 

Light of God, come to Your fallen people, as we follow in the steps of Christ.
May Your fragrance beautify Your people, as we mirror our Creator's light.

Light of God, come claim Christ's stolen glory.  Burn the shadows with the flame of Truth. 
May Your church rise, stars within the darkness, giving glory to the Lord of Light.

Light Divine, come Father of all beauty; Son of goodness, Spirit of all Truth.
Move us, use us, people of Your vision, as we wait for our returning King.

Refrain:
Holy Spirit, break through our darkness;
Holy Spirit, breathe through our lives.
Light of God come, radiant and glorious;
Perfect wisdom in this world today.

Do not the words appeal to the depths of your very soul?  We are His church--I love how the Gettys treat God's people as the church and not just individuals in this song--and we desperately need to be people of His vision.

Blessings and Bread

When the doorbell rang on Friday morning, I immediately thought it was going to be a package! We don't get many visitors, especially drop-in visitors during the day, but we have gotten several packages since we've been married, and the doorbell rings every time! (Hopefully I won't go Pavlovian and start drooling when it happens!)


It was indeed a very large package. It was too large to be the latest book I requested from paperbackswap.com (Lasting Love by Allistair Beg). And I didn't think that John had ordered anything recently.

Inside was this lovely thing:

 

It's a rice cooker from my dear cousins and aunt and uncle in Albania, as confirmed by a facebook message which shortly followed.  I had to add it to the list of thank you notes still to write, and as I did, I was reminded of how spoiled/blessed we are. 

 

I don't really like using the word "spoiled," because literally it means, well, ruined!  The word "blessed" is better because every good thing is a gift from the hand of our merciful God, but it almost doesn't cover it, because often blessings aren't exciting, new, or material.  Sometimes they're disguised in trials.  Surely, I'm not going to say that John and I are more blessed than my parents were as newlyweds, even though they only had $17 a week to spend on groceries and never dreamed of owning a kitchenaid or a rice cooker or going on a honeymoon in Italy.  In comparison, we seem spoiled.  And why?  Why is it that life is so easy for us right now?  Surely, surely more difficult times will come.  Hopefully, in the face of future trials, our joy together, with each other, will never once waver.  But I don't want to become complacent, expecting God to continue to bless me with worldly things when He has already blessed me so abundantly with His Son, and now with John. 

 

"Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion,

That I not be full and deny You and say, "Who is the LORD ?" Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God."  Proverbs 30:8-9
 
On another note, I made bread yesterday!  It's Ezekiel bread, from a recipe in Taste of Home.  I thought it was sooo beautiful . . . .
 

But then, when I cut one load open to freeze half of it, I discovered this: 

Does anyone know what would make bread do this?  

Besides that, it's quite delicious, and according to my calculations, approximately $1.83 a loaf, until I can start finding wheat germ, honey, etc. at better prices.  And John likes it too, yay!