Quiet is how my soul felt after my sister’s visit ended. It was a whirlwind of a weekend. The buzz of excitement and proximity came to a crescendo of togetherness.
There were many things I wanted to do and say but time slipped away as quickly as water through fingers. We left each place and experience already hoping for a next time…
As we sat together eating, remembering, and revisiting places familiar shortened the distance of so many years apart.
The day after their departure I found left overs in the fridge from our time together. I began to prepare them as I do my home made meals, realizing they were a special gift. They were a cord connecting me to a fulfilled longing. I loved that because of these leftovers I was able to linger in their gift of presence. It was their presence that stilled and quieted my soul in peace.
Maybe you are also navigating the murky waters of unfulfilled longings. maybe the waves overpower and you flail breathless and can’t catch a glimpse of the goodness available for you.
I want to remind you today, that you are not alone. I pray for you today. I pray that His gift of presence will supernaturally quiet and still your soul. Let those spaces tender, heal in the presence of Jesus.
As you emerge you will find your heart is ready to be available, present, and to serve wholeheartedly. With out expecting it you will begin to catch glimpses of the goodness specifically placed for you all around.
To share your space with your people is truly a generous gift from above.
Be strengthened with grace and love,
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This salad reminds me of laughter and cool breezes while dining al fresco in Greece. My family and I traveled there during my college years and the texture and unbelievable flavor of the food has never left me. Another thing I remember is how the table was central to everyday life; people gathered, they shared good food, and lingered over heart connections.
I invite you to gather your community, set the table, and enjoy deep Christ centered conversation together. This salad will help you do it easily and without much fuss. You can grill some chicken and use this salad as a side dish and Listo! you have a healthy meal to share!
Ingredients
1 medium sized glass jar or food storage container 1 small red onion (or a half of a large red onion) 1/2 cup red wine vinegar 1/4 tsp oregano 1/2 tsp coarse sea salt 1/4 tsp cumin
1 cup of pearl couscous /(I used a tri-color Israeli toasted one)/
2 cups of cherry tomatoes /cut in half/
1 English cucumber /cubed into medium sized cubes/
1 can of garbanzo beans /drained and rinsed/
1/2 red onion /thinly sliced/
1 cup feta cheese
1/4 cup of fresh parsley /chopped/
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp sea salt
For the vinaigrette
1/4 cup of olive oil + one tablespoon to cut the tartness after you mix the ingredients
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 lemon /juiced/
2 cloves of garlic /minced/
1stp dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Begin by gathering all the ingredients to your work space
2. Thinly slice the red onion and put them aside
3. Take a quart sized pan and fill it with water, add salt and a splash of olive oil. (This step is flexible. Cook the couscous like you would cook pasta or follow the instructions on the package.)
4. Bring the water to a boil and then add the couscous simmer on medium until the couscous is “al dente,” not hard but not too soft. about 8-10 minutes. Then drain the couscous, rinse under cold water, and set in the refrigerator to chill.
5. While the couscous is cooking, finish chopping the rest of the vegetables. (Keep your eye on the stove, anytime I cook pasta inevitably the water boils over.)
6. While the couscous chills, mix the vinaigrette ingredients in a jar and shake vigorously until well blended. Taste to check the tartness and flavor. You may need to add the leftover olive oil or more salt and pepper.
7. In a salad bowl, combine the cherry tomatoes, garbanzo beans, feta, cucumbers, red onions, and parsley. Then add the chilled couscous.
8. Serve immediately or place in the refrigerator for a few hours for the flavors to meld.
Deliciosa ensalada de cuscús
Ingredientes:
1 taza de cuscús de perla (yo use un cuscús de tres-colores)
2 tazas de tomates cherry cortados por mitad
1 un pepino cortado en cubitos medianos
1 una lata de garbanzo escurridos y enjuagados
1/2 una cebolla roja picada bien delgadita
1 taza de queso feta
1/4 taza de perejil picado
1/4 cucharadita de comino
1/4 cucharadita pimienta molida
1/2 cucharadita de sal
Para la vinagreta
1/4 taza de aceite de oliva + una cucharada para cortar la acidez después de mezclar los ingredientes
1/4 taza de vinagre de vino tinto
El zumo de un limón
2 dientes de ajo picados
1 cucharadita de orégano seco
sal y pimienta a sabor
Instruciones
1. Comienza recogiendo todos los ingredientes
2. Toma la cebolla y córtalas en rebanadas finas
3. Cocina el cuscús siguiendo las instrucciones del paquete, cuando el cuscús esté al dente, escurrirlo, enjuagarlo en agua helada, y ponerlo en la refri para que se enfríe.
4. Mientras el cuscús se cocina termina de cortar el resto de los vegetales.
6. Mientras el cuscús se enfría, mezcla la vinagreta en un frasco y agítalo vigorosamente hasta que esté bien mezclado. Pruébala para ver cómo está de ácido, podría ser que tengas que añadir más aceite de oliva o sal y pimienta.
7. En una ensaladera, combina los tomates, garbanzos,queso feta, pepinos,cebollas rojas, y perejil. Después agrega el cuscús frío.
8. Sirve inmediatamente o ponlo en la refri un par de horas para que los sabores se mezclen.
So many goals swirling in my brain. So many dreams wanting to take root. I see them. They give me hope that new things are wanting to break through. This year I want to take time to hone the craft of writing. Five Minute Friday is a great place for me practice and be encouraged by other writers as I write. I will set the timer for five minutes and then write. Here we go! I am excited to invite you in, welcome.
Desperate
How long Will the crush Of violence suffocate?
How long Will children’s eyes Fill with terror?
How long Will a mother’s tears Fall desperate?
How long Will death seem to Have the last word?
Oh my soul I know you are troubled I know you’re desperate for an answer
Remember then: His faithfulness His new morning mercies His steadfast love His own suffering His desire to come close His sure step in the darkest valley
Then my soul cry out: How long-O Lord Will your justice delay? Have mercy Lord, have mercy
Hear our cries and save Our desperate prayers Though feeble fall Straight in your heart And your Word sustains
You’re near and I will see your goodness still.
~DFD
Psalm 6:3
My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O LORD—how long?
Gracefully,
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High up in the sky the sun
the heat rising from the ground
tears close to spill
yet our hearts were tender still
Miracles right from the start
prayer a constant spark
Connecting and strengthening
In the waiting the Lord was growing tiny seeds in the dark
now before me an expanse
that spoke of the glory of God
A smile of miracles seen
blooms into a sparkle in eyes -a deeper knowing of God
High up in the sky the sun
the heat rising from the ground
we enter pastures dresses in beauty all around
beauty of beasts given by the creator
beauty in places that astound
watching, touching, loving,
knowing all this is gift a prayer and a dream
the shade is comfortable we huddle close seeking shade
yet, there’s more
this was beautiful and healing
and yet more He has in store
an Elijah moment before me
in the stillness of the day
the heat rising and oppressive
we see the winds pick up
the branches sway and dance to rhythm the powerful breezes relay
stronger and stronger lifting dust and leaves
Lifting and twisting in powerful air
the openness now seems dangerous
But surprisingly it comforts us
just as our hearts began to quake
And we looked around for shelter and escape
a cold breeze on our skin the wind becomes breeze
ushering a new coolness
ushering peace that surpasses understanding
the evening turns into a sweet haven
a whisper of promises from heaven.
a gentle breeze cool
a heart poised to hear
a tender caress from father God whispers,
“ I see you, I hear you I am yours and you are my delight”
High up in the sky the sun
below the daughters of the Son
a Lord who comes close
heaven caresses wind blown hair sweet
now praises rise from the ground
It’s been a year since my grandmother went to heaven. I still as if just yesterday I stood beside her bed and read Psalm 91 over her. Loving her my whole life has been one of my greatest blessings. From the moment she first held my hand to walk to town in Honduras to the moment she last held my hand at her table I knew I was loved. I’m so glad that my children also got to hold her hand because I know they felt the true and peaceful love only she could give. I will continue to remember her in the flowers, in the quiet afternoon coffee time, and in prayer. This year when I see new life grow in the garden I remember that she is whole, new, and full of life too. Te amo, Abuela.
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Consider the flowers…will he not also care for you.
So many goals swirling in my brain. So many dreams wanting to take root. I see them. They give me hope that new things are wanting to break through. This year I want to take time to hone the craft of writing. Five Minute Friday is a great place for me practice and be encouraged by other writers as I write. I will set the timer for five minutes and then write. Here we go! I am excited to invite you in, welcome.
Recover
A word spoken in truth
A desire to love with our family
good words, assumptions, anomaly
Grace covered wounds
moving aside, pushed away
reminded though that He stays
A sense of loss lingers
a blessing taken
yet my faith remains unshaken
I believe I will see His goodness
I hear my friends voice
tears spill as I rejoice
Stay there
I will come for you
the ones who would come are few
His grace invades my day
my soul buoys in grace
his love my safe space
He carries me
His love recovers me from despair
He is my recovery.
~DFD
Gracefully,
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So many goals swirling in my brain. So many dreams wanting to take root. I see them. They give me hope that new things are wanting to break through. This year I want to take time to hone the craft of writing. Five Minute Friday is a great place for me practice and be encouraged by other writers as I write. I will set the timer for five minutes and then write. Here we go! I am excited to invite you in, welcome.
Middle
Spring is a middle that is most notable for the beginning. But the life we see pushing forward to begin its life in the light is not the beginning. The beginning was lonely, dark, and required death. There would be no middle without that, there would be no bud or bloom-the seed had to die first.
So it is with our dreams and lives, our beginnings were dark and unknown and definitely mysterious. Then why is it that we expect then to jump right into the middle? We must acknowledge that we can not have a middle that is lush and full without a beginning that requires complete surrender of our dreams.
Gracefully,
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take your power bowls and salads to the next level
Cebollas Rojas Encurtidas.
One of my fondest memories growing up in Honduras was spending time cooking with my aunt. She cooked outside on a mud stove that she herself remuded and took care of every day. She always had a pot of beans on the stove and mounds of tortillas handmade everyday. All of her delicious food was garnished with one kind or another with encurtido. On my travels to the Caribbean I rediscovered this childhood favorite and vowed to figure out how to make it at home! I asked my mom to give me her recipe because in Texas we kept a Texas-sized jar of vegetable encurtido on the kitchen counter too! Sabroso! As I’ve played around with my mom’s recipe my favorite encurtido to make is an easy pickled red onion recipe.
The total time for this recipe from prep to table is 20 minutes to 1 hour depending how long you want to let it marinade before you use it. I make small batches so I use either a half of a large red onion or a small red onion and that makes about 8 servings. Each serving is about 1/2 a table spoon.
Ingredients
1 medium sized glass jar or food storage container 1 small red onion (or a half of a large red onion) 1/2 cup red wine vinegar 1/4 tsp oregano 1/2 tsp coarse sea salt 1/4 tsp cumin 1/4 tsp ground black pepper + 6 or so whole kernels of peppers 1 bay leaf
Instructions
Begin by gathering all the ingredients to your work space
Thinly slice the red onion and put them aside
take the glass jar and and mix together the remaining ingredients
add the onions and stir well. If you are using a jar you can give it a little shake
Listo! let it sit for at least 10 minutes before you use it.
Now garnish any meal especially a breakfast with a sunny side up egg!
Notas
*Making this recipe should feel very comfortable and organic for you. Do not hesitate to add more of any of the ingredients to make it to your taste. *Sometimes my slicing is not equal and uniform and that’s ok! The sharper your knife the better your slicing technique will be. *When I don’t have oregano I substitute Herbs de Provence instead-you will love this herb blend! *if you would like to submerge your onions completely you can add a bit more of vinegar or even olive oil.
Eastertide is the period of 50 days, spanning from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday. It is celebrated as a single joyful feast, called the “great Lord’s Day”. I have never though of Easter as the beginning day of a feast. It always seemed to be the culmination but as I have wanted to linger in the brilliance of Easter this year, I have discovered that actually we are meant to not just linger but also feast. The following are some passages that have helped meditate on the events that unfolded after Jesus rose from the dead.
Then I discovered that the week after Easter is called Bright Week and I couldn’t get enough of it! Bright Week is the period of seven days from Easter Sunday through to the following Saturday (Easter Saturday or Bright Saturday). I loved following along on the daily readings here.
Below is a list of Encounters with Jesus after He rose again. I have linked some back to my IG posts during Bright Week.
4.the breakfast on the beach (last recorded miracle) One of my favorite moments from the life of Jesus to serve the disciples breakfast after they have been fishing all night. This leads to the beautiful way Peter is assured of God’s love.
5.Peter reinstated three times Peter denies Jesus and three times Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” so heart-wrenchingly beautiful.
6.The great commission Although these last two didn’t take place during the week after the resurrection, I want to be reminded that these are important to the way Jesus communed with his disciples after he rose again. They also take place during Eastertide.
7The ascension He will come back again the same way He went up to heaven. Amen, come soon Lord Jesus.
May He dwell with you and you with Him the rest of the year in Grace.
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So many goals swirling in my brain. So many dreams wanting to take root. I see them. They give me hope that new things are wanting to break through. This new year I want to take time to hone the craft of writing. Five Minute Friday is a great place for me practice and be encouraged by other writers as I write. I will set the timer for five minutes and then write. Here we go! I am excited to invite you in, welcome.
Pressure
I feel the pressure that comes with the desire to create. And yet the pressure also becomes a catalyst one that propels you to take action. Sometimes, we second guess ourselves and let our thoughts paralyze us.
But what if today instead we allow our minds to focus on prayer as we surrender the dreams and desires to the one who holds all things together?
here is a breath prayer for you as you find rest in Him.
inhale: Lord my stay
exhale: I trade pressure for your presence.
Gracefully,
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