on journaling...

"Your Journal shouldn't be a dumping ground, but a place to create, recognize and celebrate the beauty and joy, that which is in all things. It should be a friend you have a great time with, not a shoulder you whine on. Commemorate the positive. Eliminate the negative."



-Danny Gregory

Slovak family Christmas traditions

Religious family traditions and customs bring truths of faith into the home. One of these beautiful customs is Oplatki. The breaking of bread is a sign of charity, unity, and fellowshjip. The wafer is blessed and broken by the head of the family and distributed to each member. A simple prayer is said for God's grace and the welfare of the present and absent members of the family. While doing so, each family member is kissed and wished a joyful feast. The members then greet one another in the same way.

















Traditional Slovak Christmas Meal—Oplatki
(which means to mourn or remember someone or an event)

1. Pass around to each person at the table a bread wafer, served with honey, sliver of garlic, and sprig of parsley and horseradish immediately following a prayer or giving of thanks.
a. Cracker: represents Christ, the Bread of Life
b. Honey: Sweetness of Christ
c. Garlic: Family trek to/from Egypt
d. Parsley: return to Nazareth
e. Horseradish: demonstrates the Life of Christ—He was a Man of Sorrow
2. Wine: represents first miracle at Cana
3. Fish: White baked/smoked Herring with rye bread.
4. Cheese (w/ crackers) is a product from sheep’s milk (We are His sheep: He is our Shepard)
5. Sauerkraut soup: Humble Meal for the homeless Christ.
6. Perrogi: prune/cheese filled
7. Haluski: Cabbage dumplings Simple Lifestyle of Christ and his disciples
8. Openkance: Poppy seed dumpling
9. Roast: Lamb or Beef (Represents our Slain Savior) (No fowl is served because rooster proclaimed man’s denial of Jesus)
10. Rice/Potato with gravy: Meals the Lord had with rich man like Simon, Zacchaeus and others.
11. Kolacki: Poppy seed/nut roll, other desserts (Christ’s fellowship with friends)
12. Fresh Fruit and Nuts: bounty and abundant life we have through Christ (We are fruitful and productive for God and the kingdom).

Christmas Sauerkraut Soup (mentioned above)

• 2-3 lbs. Chuck meat
• 3-4 lbs. Spareribs (meaty)
• 2-3 lbs. Smoked or fresh Polish sausage
• 1 TBS. Salt
• ½ tsp. pepper (fresh crushed is best)
• ¼ tsp. paprika
• ½ C. barley, washed and rinsed
• 1-2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 bay leaf (REMOVE when soup is done)
• 12 prunes (one for each of the disciples)
• ½ tsp. caraway seed (opt.), crushed in coffee grinder
• 1 C. DRY mushrooms that are soaked overnight (Shitake)
• 1 medium onion, sliced thin
• 1 lg. Can or bottle sauerkraut (Bohemian style)
• 1 can northern beans (white)

Use largest soup pot you own. Rinse meat and ribs in cold water; set in large kettle. If using fresh sausage, put into pot with meat. Smoked sausage will be added later. Cover with at least 12-14 cups water (more be needed as the soup simmers). Bring water to quick boil; lower flame immediately and simmer to bring up the foam. Skim foam and discard. When foam no longer appears, add Salt, bay leaf, pepper, paprika, caraway seeds and washed barley, mushrooms with liquid, crushed garlic, and beans. Let this simmer for about an hour. After 1 hour, sauté onion lightly to glaze; add to soup along with sauerkraut. Then add prunes and smoked sausage at this time.

(YOU MAY USE 2 BEEF BOULLION CUBES AT SOME POINT IF YOU THINK THE SOUP IS THIN TASTING).

Simmer additional 2 hours, or until meat falls easily from the bone. Take meat out of soup into large bowl or roaster. Store cold.

THICKENING:
• 4 TBS. Margarine
• 4 TBS. Flour

Brown flour into melted margarine to a golden brown. Remove from flame and slowly add:
• 1 ½ C. water
• 2 tsp. vinegar

Over a medium flame, continue to thicken roué. Add 1 cup soup stock to make it thinner; add all this to soup and simmer soup for about another 15 minutes.

Soup is best tasting when made the day prior to serving; this allows it to marinate. When reheating soup, add meat back to soup, heat and remove meat to roaster. Place in warm 200° oven while eating soup, until ready to serve.

ENJOY YOUR MEAL, GIVING THANKS FOR HIS GRACE, FOR THE YEARS PAST, AND PRAYER FOR THE YEAR AHEAD!

May He grant us peace in our lives, length of our days, and joy in all we do. Amen.

the gift of presence

I arrive home from a day at the office or running errands, and I am greeted with a joyful greeting from my little Easton. His routine is always the same. He will step out of his crate, tail-wagging, lower to the ground and wait for a rub down. He’ll stretch. He’ll then rush excitedly to search for a toy to come show me. The most important thing in his life is companionship, and he always looks back to make sure I’m watching, following, or listening. If I’m not, he is sure to get my attention in the ways he knows best. A cracked blackberry, destroyed camera card, chewed pair of eyeglasses, and shredded pair of panties later, I could not be any more certain that my dog knows how to get to me. Afterall, his greatest moments are those spent with his mama.

Everyone wants to be loved and to feel a sense of belonging in some way or other.

For those of us who have friends and family near and dear to us in the holiday season, we cherish the moments together. For me, I am most excited about the thought of simply gathering together, possibly celebrating with food, and possibly celebrating with a bit too much food. This is the season that traditionally affects our waistlines, our wallets, and possibly even our sanity. There is a countdown clock at work that plagues me with the greatest of anxiety, and I’m even keeping it simple this year! Despite these challenges during the busyness of the season, it is with the greatest of anticipation that I still countdown towards the day we celebrate the birth of our Saviour. Pastor Rick of the People’s Church shared a message this past Sunday, reminding us of the ultimate gift, stating, “God has come down to man…for a reason…and promises to never leave us.” In this it is made clear that we are children of God to which His presence was made known among us. Even more extraordinary is that Jesus gave up divine privileges so that He could make a way for US. He became the connection. This was the fulfillment of God’s promise to us, and further proof that He would never leave us or forsake us, as is written in His Word.

So it is in this holiday season that we get to enjoy the presence of God.

changing focus

This week I oficially started my new role at e+ CancerCare in Accounts Receivable doing insurance claims follow up. I'm very excited to take on new responsibilities and train closely with the AR management team. I don't think there's a better group to learn from!

The cover of FastCompany caught my eye the other day. Featured in the magazine was an article about Nike CEO Mark Parker. He shared some advice he learned as a child from his grandmother. She would often share her observations about the world, "...engaged and learning new things until she passed," said Parker. One of the resulting guiding principles that made it to the cover of this month's issue:

"Curiosity is life. Assumption is death. Look around. Be a sponge."

So where I was formally writing appeals for denied claims, I will now be handling the step just prior to that. I think that I have an opportunity to challenge the insurance payers and potentially bring in money quicker than with appeals. It will be interesting as I learn another facet of the business!

God's artistry and the human connection

There is something about the act of creating that makes me feel connected with God. Perhaps it's because this is a talent I feel He's gifted me with, or perhaps it's because He Himself is the Creator of all things...or possibly both. I feel a sense of connection, whether it be when I'm cooking, painting, jornaling, or photographing my surroundings. Part of it has to do with using what God has already created to make something new and beautiful, but there's also a connection with becoming like God, who loved us enough to think to even create humanity and the connection to Him through Christ His son.

I've been considering making gift-giving this Christmas season about art, and it hasn't been difficult to find inspiration for what projects I'd like to do. That said, I started to panic when I realized that Christmas is only two short months away! With only two projects complete so far, I have a ways yet to go!

home, sweet home

Today marks nearly two months since we moved into the new house. I've entered a new season in my life where I really need to be surrounded by friends and activities, and this move has been in keeping with this theme. Time has passed quickly, but it's been full of barbeques, firepits, cooking in the kitchen, movie nights, and time spent out on the back deck.

Welcome to your tour of 3403!


This is a view from the front of the house:


When you walk into the house, there is our living space to the right, stairwell leading to two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs, and an entrance to my bedroom on the left.



There was a period of adjustment for Easton, but I don't think there's anywhere he'd rather be right now. He loves Katie and Stephanie, cuddles up to them on the couch after a long day, steals their laundry and gives them plenty of kisses. Sounds late at night still put him in protective mode. As soon as the front door opens, which is right next to my bedroom door, Easton pushes his nose under the door and wags his tail, recognizing who it is.


Here are a few pictures of my bathroom downstairs:


The most entertaining places to be are in the kitchen...


...and on the back deck.

Yum

This weekend we celebrated Daniel's 25th birthday (my roommate Stephanie's boyfriend), and his being a chef, I decided to try one of my mom's recipes that I was hoping he might enjoy. There was none left at the end of the night so I'd say it was a success! For those who might like to try this great fall recipe, here you go:

PUMPKIN ROLL WITH CREAM CHEESE FILLING

CAKE:
• Powdered sugar
• ¾ C. all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp. Baking powder
• ½ tsp. Baking soda
• ½ tsp. Ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp. Ground cloves
• ¼ tsp. Salt
• 3 large eggs
• 1 C. granulated sugar
• 2/3 C. Libby’s 100% Pure Pumpkin
• 1 C. chopped walnuts (opt.)

FILLING:
• 1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
• 1 C. sifted powdered sugar
• 6 TBS. Butter or margarine, softened
• 1 tsp. Vanilla extract
• powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 375°. Grease 15x10 inch jelly-roll pan; line with wax paper. Sprinkle towel with powdered sugar.
Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt in small mixer bowl. Beat eggs and sugar in large mixer bowl until thick. Beat in pumpkin. Stir in flour mixture. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle with nuts if desired.
Bake for 13 to 15 minutes or until top of cake springs back when touched. Immediately loosen and turn cake onto prepared towel. Carefully peel off paper. Roll up cake and towel together, starting with narrow end. Cool on wire rack.
Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla extract in small mixer bowl until smooth. Carefully unroll cake; remove towel. Spread cream cheese mixture over cake. Re-roll cake. Wrap and refrigerate at least one hour. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving. Makes approximately 10 servings.

Enjoy!