Daring Bakers Challenge: Eclairs!

Today is my first official "reveal" with the Daring Bakers. I was a little taken aback when I read that the August challenge was: ECLAIRS!

Specifically, the bakers were challenged to Pierre's Herme's Chocolate Eclair recipe. We were instructed that we had to use the Choux Pastry recipe as written. However we were allowed to substitute one of the chocolate components, if we liked.


I was successful the first time out of the gate with the puffs! I was quite well pleased.

Then it was on to the filling. I opted for a vanilla custard filling and used the chocolate sauce to top.


All in all, the family was happy and my friends impressed.

I was proud.

The Omnivore's One Hundred

The Omnivore’s One Hundred

I read this survey on one of my subs in my feeds:

Here’s a chance for a little interactivity for all the bloggers out there. Below is a list of 100 things that I think every good omnivore should have tried at least once in their life. The list includes fine food, strange food, everyday food and even some pretty bad food - but a good omnivore should really try it all. Don’t worry if you haven’t, mind you; neither have I, though I’ll be sure to work on it. Don’t worry if you don’t recognise everything in the hundred, either; Wikipedia has the answers.

Here’s what I want you to do:

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

Da Bee's Knees' Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile (I hope alligator is close enough!)
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari (yum!)
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese (ate it as a young child with my Father. Found out what it was as a teen...Yech!)
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche (Homemade by the abuelita!)
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi Honey lassi rocks, though....
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O (and had the headache to prove it)
39. Gumbo (ain’t none bettah dan Nana’s, no.)
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian (Fruit should NOT smell like that!)
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette (Ewwwwww......... foiled by Daddy again!)
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini (over rated, IMHO)
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky (And my kids love them, too!)
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa (I’ve had harissa in West Indian food... it that the same?)
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

Seventy-three of the hundred listed! Not bad, eh???

Chocolate Chip Cookie or A Brownie?

Why would anyone choose between a chocolate chip cookie or a brownie, when you can have both?

Beats me.

Love On a Plate

Weekends at home with my sons are the best. Even better? When THEY cook for mama. I confess, I've purposely shared my love of cooking with them.

Sunday was my birthday. One of may favorite meals was waiting for me in the morning. A Southwestern Breakfast Quiche, Cheese Grits and Fruit Salad.

Love on a plate.

Goofy

There are times when I just laugh and shake my head at myself.

Hot weather today... just over ninety degrees....Nearing the end of lunch break... pulled into parking lot. I sat in the car gathering up all the items that needed to go inside. I arranged them for optimum chance of not dropping anything.

Okay, got it all together. Hopped out of the car, shut the door and stood there thinking, "uh oh.... someone left their car running." So, I decided to be a good samaritan to find out who.... so.........

I opened the door to put down the items, and realized that it was MY car running when I heard the radio playing.

I don't know if I just didn't hear the key alarm "ding ding ding" or what.

Anyway, turned off the car and headed in.

All the while, shaking my head at myself.

Gotta love me.

Strudel and Danish

I admit it. I am a food blog junkie. Finally, the pressure became too much for this foodie. I already love to cook. So, why not try baking?

Actually, I bake the day to day stuff rather nicely. But my foray into puff pastry with croissants was..............um, less than great.

Today, I wanted to try strudel and danish from scratch.




It really wasn't difficult. And the results have turned me into a believer.



AJ liked the danish best: Apple, Cheese and Raspberry choices. Isaac and I liked the strudel.



There just might be something to this from scratch baking stuff!

Open For Discussion

Late last night I was up number crunching. It was a depressing affair. I have spent the last six years working on money management skills, and made great strides. For the first time in my adult life I not only had a savings account with more than a minimum balance, I had one that was not laughable.

But the game has changed. Everyone is struggling with the price of gas. I am no exception. Less than two years ago, I could fill the tank of my PT Cruiser with seventeen dollars. No joke. I mean fill it where the tank gauge hovered oh so gently above the “F”.

Yesterday, it cost forty-seven dollars and change. I gas up around every five to six days.

I live in a small city that abuts a larger city where I work. The travel distance is just shy of thirteen miles. So at a minimum, I drive 26 miles daily. That means that I park when I arrive at work and do not move the car except to drive home. That happens most of the time. However, sometimes I must attend to business at lunch break. Or worse, I must travel further away from home to a meeting at the northern campus of my employer. That additional travel is another fifteen miles in the wrong direction. So, on those days I travel nearly 56 miles.

I cannot afford a different vehicle.

In a desperate attempt to stem the money hemorrhage inflated gas prices have caused, I have become even more diligent with trip planning. But it just isn’t working.

I have trimmed the fat in other areas of finances.

1. Leftovers have become haute cuisine in my home.
2. Gone are coffee outings
3. Gone: entertainment outings with rare exceptions allowed a few times a quarter.
4. I only buy food grown locally, as the prices are cheaper
5. The dinner table hosts many more humble meals
6. Clothing purchases are put on hold, save those absolutely necessary.
7. Car tires pressure measured at least weekly.
8. The air conditioner has been adjusted up two degrees (This IS Florida)
9. I have become the light switch monitor
10. I bake more than ever to put bread stuffs and desserts on our Sunday table. Sunday is sacrosanct.

I realize that these are common, thrifty moves. And in fact a great deal have been in practice for years. But now, I am on patrol within my household with a vengeance. And yet, gasoline prices are still winning the budgetary battle.

Carpooling is difficult, as I live in another city than most of my co-workers. The one co-worker that lives near enough by to do so often works a vastly different schedule.

The one saving grace this summer is the fact that my employer has instituted a four day work week for the summer semester. That has been a small help.

Looking at the long term effect: Vacation times will be much more mundane in the coming year. I know many folks look at vacations as an extravagance. For me, they are mental health days. The 25 dollars monthly that used to go into the vacation fund has stopped. Vacations not currently planned and paid for will not happen.

But I am left to wonder, what else can go? Where else can I trim the dollars? Oh yeah, about the finances…. That saving account is becoming laughable again.

I just don’t know.

Ladies, Do You Know Why?

Why is it that when you visit a store and find their undergarments on sale and stock up, not all of them fit once you return home....even when they are the same size?

By the way, I came home and stripped them all of tags and tossed them in the washer. So....... returns are not an option.

Your insights appreciated. If no insight.........commisseration will work.

Feelin' Hot, Hot, HOT!

Hot! Hot! HOT!

Today there was a serious problem with temperature control in my office at work. The thermometer that I borrowed from a coworker in the next office climbed to 84 degrees Fahrenheit, before I bailed. (Around 11:00 a.m.) Her office was only a balmy 78 degrees.

Before leaving the workspace, I forwarded my office line to another worksite outside of my office, submitted a work order for maintenance to address the issue and made a sign directing patrons where to find me. (I decided to try to overlook the fact that on March 20th, I had submitted a work order for the same reason….. yeah.)

Anyway…….

Once comfortably settled in a significantly cooler and much more comfortable workspace, I set about accessing my work Outlook email remotely. First order of business was to contact the one appointment that I had scheduled for assessments and consultation. As I pulled up the calendar feature to access the details of the appointment, I realized that I never have just ONE scheduled appointment in an afternoon. Very fortuitous indeed! I would only have to inconvenience one patron. Turns out I could not reach him. But when he showed up at two o’clock and was informed of the situation he said, “Oh, good… I really need to take care of some business but didn’t want to cancel on short notice.” Wow. Cool!

As I settled in, I realized that being outside of my office; I would be limited in productive activities to stay busy. I was at work, after all…

So, I decided to tackle my overgrown inbox in Outlook. The last month has been very hectic with scheduled meetings, college wide events, committees and a huge load of support assessments for various instructors and professors on the campus. So, each day I “put out fires” in the inbox and left the remainder for when I had the time. Well guess what? Today was the day! I was so pleased to get my mailbox back under the size limit restriction from the IT administrator! My inbox alone had over 114 messages, and then the sent file and deleted items needed to be cleaned up. I read, responded and deleted as if on a mission.

That huge task done, I turned my attention to the 86 online documents that I needed to read, evaluate and rank. I am happy to say that I made a huge dent in those, too.

So, in reality what happened today was not really an inconvenience. I had the opportunity to focus my attention on two tasks needing my attention since I had no distractions of administering assessments, consulting with patrons and guiding exploration.

It was a greatly productive day.

But I still hope that they fix the air conditioning before tomorrow.

She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain

I was thinking of some of the obstacles and challenges that I face. I mean, in this life we all have difficulties. Right?

Well, I got to thinking... (dangerous, I know)

There are definitely mountains that I must climb to overcome issues. But not every problem, every situation demands that. At times, I can be so driven to reach a goal, finish a task or solve a situation... that I start doggedly hiking up the mountain. Sure there are some mountains that require me to grab my climbing gear (faith, hope and perseverance) and do the work of reaching the summit. But there are times, that I should simply go around.

Just like the football receiver running the ball......... I should feint to the left or right, without breaking stride. There are some problems that really have no solution, and in fact are only there to distract me. The problem may never go away......or may persist for a season, but that doesn't mean that I cannot find a way around it. ..Find another means of success.... find an alternate path.

Joseph took Mary and baby Jesus away to another land. He avoided obstacles and traps. But our Lord returned to the land after the season had passed.

So, my new prayer is that the Lord show me those mountains to climb with His strength and give me wisdom to go around those that serve only to slow me down or distract me.

The Righteously Moral Olympics

The Righteously Moral Olympics



I deal with sin in my life far more often than many might think a Christian would. Shocked? Don't be.




I am by the grace of God, quite a changed woman from where I started when I first came to the foot of the cross. But by no means, am I sinless.




The last week has given me an insight into Our Father's love, grace and mercy. It has also given me the opportunity to be His arms of grace and love and mercy. People need love, not condemnation.




Sin is ugly. That cannot be denied. But when a child of God is convicted, repents and resolves to make amends….. We must yield to the Father's blessing.




The title of this entry is a sarcastic nod to the attitudes swirling in many congregations within the Church.




I wonder if some folks knew of some of the debased, sinful things in my past…….. if they would ostracize me? I'm talking of sins that did not offend them. Meaning, they were not affected. Would they help me to walk in the hard won, soul wrenching forgiveness found in Jesus? Would they doubt my sincerity and demand proof? Would they ask for a public confession?




Why would they feel the right to do that?




The bible says that when a brother sins against you, to take it to the person directly:




Matthew 18: 15-16


15 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.


16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.


17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.




However, if the person does not sin against you personally, has repented, received pastoral counseling with guidance towards healing………. Who are we to remain offended? This is NOT a case where Matthew 18 should be applied. Restoration should be the goal.




Again, it isn't the morality Olympics. We are all sinners saved by grace. A young Christian will undoubtedly need more grace, as they strive to heed the Holy Spirit……. And when they feel the bone aching remorse, leading to confession and repentance. What that person needs is edification.




Edification doesn't negate the sin. It does however promote healing and gives strength to persevere the consequences. It gives flesh and blood to forgiveness.


We must be careful to remember that it is the sin that offends. Not the person…not after they have been restored in Christ.




Brothers and sisters, we need to stop shooting our wounded. We need to help them to the Cross, and pray for them.




It isn't about us. It is about their relationship with the Father.




John 8:7


So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

They Don't Jump On The Bed Anymore

While standing outside on the front porch in the dark, I notice the house across the street. Specifically, I notice the flickering shadows in one of the windows.

As I continue to watch, it becomes clear what is happening behind the closed blinds. The little boys that live there are jumping on their bed. I smile to myself. As I watch, my mind recalls years ago when my two sons were both younger than six years old and jumped on their beds.

As a responsible parent, I bade them to stop....... but deep inside, I adored the screeches and giggles their raucous fun elicited.

Now, my sons are sixteen and seventeen years old. They don't jump on their beds anymore. But I still caution them against dangers seen and unseen. I still relish the glint in their eyes as they spread their wings in various ways.

I miss the childish laughter. But I am enjoying the years at hand. They are strong, smart and dashing. And they are still my babies.

American Christianity's Carnival Trick Mirror

American Christianity’s Carnival Trick Mirror


I spend quite a bit of time online these days. In fact, I have spent many hours online for the last five or six years. I check my email daily and read the local, state, national and world news. I also visit my standard forums and peruse blogs utilizing a search engine on Google ®.

I have noticed a few disturbing trends in North America, specifically among those of us in the United States that are the Church. There are prevailing mindsets and attitudes that cause alarm. Strangely, American Christians seems to think that our Christian experience is the ultimate and most holy in God’s eyes. Think about it.

First I’ll start with the move towards ultra conservatism. As an aside, I will admit that I am a moderate conservative. (A term that is synonymous with “liberal” in many closed minded camps) There seems to be an idea that one can never be too conservative. And the more conservative one can be is directly proportionate to personal holiness.

Secondly, I am alarmed at the herd mentality and group think when it comes to dating, marriage and gender roles. I believe that marriage and family is the unit that God created to be the building blocks of society. However, I also believe that the Lord made man and woman differently. That said, different does not mean second-rate.

Young Christian women in America are being brained washed to “dummy down”. They are being encouraged to not seek higher education. I understand that it is a choice whether or not to work outside of the home. I have no problem with either choice. I do, however have problems with a woman being left with no marketable skill sets should a spouse pass away or if a marriage fails. Many young women are being taught that they should not contaminate their hearts and minds with worldly knowledge.

I concur that we are not to be of the world. However we are called to be in it. And we need to know how to survive regardless of our gender as a Christian in a godless world. We must have tools in our arsenal. We must be prepared to meet them on an equal academic footing whether we are keepers of the home, or work outside the home as well as maintain the home. God is faithful and will protect and provide. However, I do not think the brains that women are given are for optional usage. They do not need to be switched off to please our fathers, boyfriends, fiancés or husbands. As long as our minds are transformed with the help of the Holy Spirit… everything is well.

There is much more to discuss, but I am out of time. I’ll address improperly defined submission, authority and respect in the next entry. Misogyny and the inferiority/superiority conundrum in American Christian males need exploration. Also, the hidden racism riding the coattails of American Conservative Christianity is in my cross hairs.

Until next time…

Rainy Summer Night

The boisterous thunder and sheets of driving rain
during the heat of the day have gone.


In their place there is cool darkness and quiet, almost
melodic, gentle rain.


Mischievously, cool breezes flirt with my skin…then run away.
They caress and retreat, sly with their touch.


In the temporal peace I hear individual rain drops gently
land on tree leaves.


Tap- tap- tap as water drips and dribbles from the down spout then
the cheerful splat causing my sidewalk to glisten in the soft porch light.


Occasionally interrupted by a slowly passing car, the frogs
croon to each other songs that only they and their Maker understand.


When I try… I imagine that I can hear the thirsty grass roots hum
greedily as they drink in the water, like a hungry baby latching on to the breast.


Fresh and pristine from the afternoon scrubbing and the gentle rinse of the night,
the air is sweet and almost intoxicating.


I stand on the porch and reflect on how rarely I remain still, quiet
and listen.



-JH2007

Wrapped Up In My Today

Luke 1: 46-55

46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

54 He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.



Wrapped Up In My Today


Like many, I tend to view my life and situations from a “self” viewpoint. I lose my focus (Jesus) and begin to look with the attitude of how situations and people affect me.

I give too much power to the actions of those present in my today. I allow myself the luxury of centering everything upon myself.

I am well glad to realize it.

The big picture just escapes me sometimes. I guess that is one of the character issues that the Holy Spirit is working on.

In the first chapter of Luke, Mary’s clarity is inspiring. I mean, come on!!!
She wasn’t thinking of what the neighbors might say (or worse do to her). She wasn’t thinking of how all of her plans were irrevocably changed. She didn’t whine about any of it. Instead, she rejoiced in the Lord.

Mary magnified the Lord’s power and mercy and love. She chose to look at the mighty God we serve in awe. She chose to trust. She put her today in perspective. Compared to her testimony of the Lord’s faithfulness, her today was a walk in the park. She knew that God “had her back.”
Her confidence was in God.


Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for Your mercy. And Lord, I thank You for Your patience with me as You mold me. I pray that my eyes remain focused on You. Because You are my yesterday, today and tomorrow. You are my eternity.
In Jesus’ name.

Amen.

The Best Things

Everyone has heard that saying: "The best things in life are free."

Well, no surprise-- it is true.

I adore being outside in the sunlight, feeling the breeze on my face. I come alive listening to the birds and smelling the sweet grass and cool earth.

Beach lounging is one of my specialties as well. There is just something about the sand between your toes, and the sun warming your skin. The ocean breeze can be intoxicating.

Even when I am constrained to indoor living........most mornings my window curtains are drawn back, blinds retracted and windows open. I crave the sunlight and sound of the breeze blowing through the tree tops. I giggle watching the lizards race through my hedges and rock garden. I long to venture out to the freedom waiting.

Yes, for me the adage is true. Some of the very best things in life are free. I'm gonna find my shades and head out into the great outdoors. I'll pack a light meal and some cool drinks and me and my flip flops will be good to go.

As the song goes...

"Grazin' in the grass is a gas! Baby, can you dig it?

Destructive Ranking and Powerful Cliques

Many have heard about the book:

Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and Other Realities of Adolescence by Rosalind Wiseman.

It details the various personality dynamics in play within a young girl/woman's social life.I would like to challenge those of you familiar with a certain element of cyberspace known as the virtual neighborhood (forum boards) to contemplate a few disturbing trends that have become rooted in the culture of some Christian boards.

This blog will address the vicious and relentless judgment and ranking amongst conservative Christian women.


Just as teen and tween girls elbow each other for position and cache', inexplicably some of my Christian sisters still engage in this harmful spirit torture. Ironically, it isn't the "prettiest" or "richest" or "most educated" that is the 'IT" girl that all hope to emulate. It is the woman that can demonstrate the most extreme observance of supplication, modesty, frugality and submission. To understand my concern, one must understand the meanings of these adjectives to that group.


In order from "best" to "least desirable, possibly sin"….


(Queen Bees)

Head covering, no hair cutting
Dresses only
Quiver full
No jewelry
No makeup
No conversing with opposite sex outside of family
Home birther
Breast feeds with child led weaning and tandem nurses
Home schooler 2nd generation

(Side Kick)

No head covering, but no hair cutting
Modest culottes and loosely tailored slacks
NFP (since they don't QUITE trust God)
Wedding ring, one hole for studs per ear
Makeup for weddings
Can speak to opposite sex with other people present.
Home birther or woman's center
Breast feeds at least 1 year
First generation home schooler

(Torn Bystander)

Cuts and styles hair
Fashionable yet modest
No children yet, either longing to marry or engaged or trying to conceive
Wedding rings and other jewelry in good taste.
Light makeup daily
Social adept with appropriate boundaries
Likes the idea of hospital birth, but without drugs or C-section
Attempts to breast feed out of guilt, for a few weeks then bottle feeds
Contemplating homes schooling, but thinks Private may work

(Messenger)

Cuts and Styles hair, but self critical
Modest and attempts to be fashionable but struggles with guilt (posts a lot of self berating and "is it a sin" questions)
May or may not be married with children, worries that she isn't as "good a woman" as others on the board.
Feels guilty when she gets dressed up, so usually doesn't
No time for makeup. Besides it would be a give away to her unrighteousness and financial irresponsibility
Shy
Holds women in awe that are in the first group
Attempted breastfeeding and became a bottle feeder
Knows that she cannot do home schooling and berates herself while championing the cause


What I find overwhelmingly sad is that within a group that is regularly overlooked, walked upon and under appreciated…these women cannot muster compassionate community amongst themselves.

Instead under the guise of Christian admonition and advice, women are spiritually tortured for missing the mark of the first group.

Never mind that lifestyle choices are completely the sole business of each couple… thus saith Evangelistic Christendom: You must be as we deem acceptable. There is more than one way to plan family size and childbirth experiences.

There is more than one acceptable fashion code. In fact, fashion isn't a dirty word. Shaving or using disposable diapers isn't an accurate measure of the quality of work a woman performs for herself, her husband or family.

How a woman takes care of her personal hygiene during menstrual cycles is even a measure of Godly womanliness. How much money does the method cost? Can it be homemade and cheaper?

Which brings up the question of household finances…

It seems that many of my sisters on some Christian boards are sacrificing and scrimping when it comes to personal needs or even desires. And to feel better about it, they file it under stewardship and submission and being a helpmeet. Although we are called to be wise with our resources, I don't know where the idea that anything that feels nice or is not a necessity is sin or waste.

I guess what I'm missing is a sense of balance.

In truth, the tighter one can squeeze a penny, the more clothes that you can make for yourself, the more babies that you can trust God to supply for, the avoidance of "government schools" at all cost and so on ad nauseum only add to the hierarchy of the Godly. It also adds to righteous indignation towards those that do not adhere and smugness.

Let's love each other as the wonderfully made women that we are. Let's encourage each other to seek the Lord's will for their family and lifestyle. And let's encourage following that leading from the Holy Spirit, even if their lives don't mirror ours.

Bottom line, you should only be "crunchy" if God calls you to it… Not just because it is the "in" thing in conservative Christianity. Don't let our sisters become an emotional casualty of condemnation. A C-section is not failure. Public school isn't disastrous. Occasional pampering is not moral turpitude. Responsible (non abortifacient) birth control is an option.

You know what they are: choices.

Imagine that!

In Little Ways

In Little Ways

The teenaged son that checks
the locks and windows nightly,
just because he cares and worries.

The younger one that empties the
trash cans around the house and
puts trash out to the curb, because he knows
his mom fell asleep.

The friend that drops everything
to come get your car started,
because he knows you don’t have money to fix
it yourself.

The friend that forgives with encouragement,
because he knows that raising children
Is hard.

The mom that makes blueberry muffins from
scratch, because she knows they are one
of her boy’s favorites.

Saying “I love you” is easy…

Showing love can be too.

Connection

Connection

A strangely familiar voice on the phone…

I smile.

Effortless and plain conversation…

Talk for an hour…

“Are you going to be awake later? Can I call you back?”

“Yes.”

A comfortable spot on my bed…

He calls.

We flirt.

The natural flow of ideas, laughter and serious discussion…

How did another hour pass so quickly?

--jh2007