Happy Birthday To Me...

Today is my 23^rd birthday. 

It’s been a quiet day, which has gotten me thinking about my life over the last few years. I look back and see just how far I have come in the last year of my life, never mind the other 22 years before that.

I’ll admit it, there have been times I have felt alone, confused, discouraged, and times I have wanted to give up. There have even been some times that I truly questioned God and His plan for me. I sometimes wondered why He has put a plan in place that doesn’t suit my particular tastes or desires.

I may see Him clearly leading, but sometimes it’s just easier (in theory), to put up a fight and see if I can get my own way.

But you know what? I realized something…that’s not easy, and it doesn’t work. It just exhausts one—spiritually, mentally, emotionally, even physically. There’s no saying I’ll never do it again, but I surely can see it’s not the easy way out.

  

Today is a new day of life, however, in more than one way I suppose.

  

I’m thankful to God that He has brought me through some very difficult things to the place where I am today. I still may not find ultimate joy all the time, and I still have a lot of growing to do, but I want to trust that as I go into my 23^rd year of life that God will continue to go with me and make His plan clearer. I hope that I will gain strength and courage and be a blessing to others.

I guess I could be reminded of these things any other time of the year, but a birthday is a good opportunity, and especially to remember God’s love for me, as well as the others around me! 

Trusting His Plans

If God leads you to it, He will lead you through it.

I have to keep reminding myself of that reassuring fact as I push my way through my nursing classes each quarter. It is easy to get stressed, discouraged, and want to give up at times. I experienced this recently, but God wasn't willing to let me give up that easily. I realized that I wasn't the one who worked things out to be able to be in the position I am in--it was all God's doing, up until the very last detail, and therefore I needed to trust His plan for my life. I am just a weak human, how do I know what is best for me? I never knew why He brought me to Walla Walla, but He has me here for a reason, and I think I am starting to catch little glimpses of what that might be. It's exciting! 

It's only recently that I embraced this thought, however. Just a few weeks ago, my agenda seemed to be quite the opposite. 

I tried escaping. God closed the doors before I could.
I made excuses. God brought me conviction.
I was confused. God put the right people in my path at just the right moment, to ask me questions that ultimately cleared things up in my own mind. 
I contradicted myself. God opened my eyes to the reality of my situation.
I had forgotten why I began in the first place. God reminded me. 

Without the reassurance of His guidance, it is sometimes easy for fear to grip the very heart. But why fear when He is so indubitably involved? I have decided and determined in my own heart and mind that what I am doing is ultimately for God and His greater glory. If I can become a nurse and just impact one person's life, I think it will all be worth it. 

I am excited to see what He is going to do, and how He will prepare me to work for Him as a nurse, or wherever He leads beyond that--this is not just for me, I submit that it is His career. "Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings" (COL p. 333).

Rest

John 3:30

It's Friday evening...Sabbath...rest....

It's thanksgiving break...rest....

At this moment I am overwhelmed with the greatness, kindness, love, mercy and patience of my precious Jesus. This quarter at school has been rough, but even though it has seemed unbearable at moments, God is seeing me through, ushering me all the way through. 

God is just so amazing and I don't know how I could live without Him. 

Thankfully I don't have to. 

Be blessed this weekend and as thanksgiving is coming up, remember all that God has done for you and all the ways (even if not obvious) that He is working in your very life.

Happy Sabbath! 

‎"Remember this. If you have made mistakes, you certainly gain a victory if you see these mistakes and regard them as beacons of warning. Thus you turn defeat into victory, disappointing the enemy and honoring your Redeemer." {COL 332}

✝ ✝ ✝

Sabbath Sweetness

Sab·bath [sab-uhth] noun - 

The seventh day of the week, Saturday...a day of rest.

This week was crazy, and stressful, and tiring...and just when I feel as if I can't take it anymore, I find myself blessed with a day of REST, the sweet Sabbath! May you each feel God's presence particularly near to you on this day (and always, but Sabbath is extra special)!

Genesis 2:2-3, "And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made."

Get close to God first before getting close to anyone else. God without man is still God, but man without God is nothing.

Cooking Fun

I have to say, much to my delight (really, who would have thought?), I have been enjoying cooking as of recent. I have never been particularly interested in cooking, but I rather like the feeling of success as a dish I try turns out to be really good! 

I thought I'd share some pictures and recipes of some of the things I made last week, as well as today. 

  ---x---

Scalloped Potatoes.

So delicious, and really easy to make, too! 

Scalloped Potatoes:
Serves 4
- 4 cups thinly sliced raw potatoes, peeled
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup clean, raw cashews
- 1/4 cup chopped onions, or 1 tsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/8 teaspoon paprika

1. Process cashews in about 1 cup of the water in a blender until very smooth.
2. Add remaining water and other ingredients, except paprika, and continue blending until smooth. 
4. Place a layer of sliced potatoes in the bottom of your sprayed baking dish.
5. Pour a small amount of your blended mix over the potatoes to cover them, and keep layering and pouring until finished.
6. Cover with tin foil and bake at 375 F for 1 hour.
7. Remove cover, sprinkle with paprika, then return to oven and continue baking until browned (about 10-15 minutes). 

Side note: Doubling the recipe will fill a rectangular baking dish like pictured above. 

 ---x---

Vanilla Pudding Pie

I used just a vegan pudding mix we had over here for the filling, but you can probably use anything you like. 

The crust was a graham cracker crust, really easy and quick to make, as well.

Homemade Graham Cracker Crust:

- 1 ½ c. graham crackers – 1 package of 9-10 crackers

- 1/3 c. sugar

- 6 Tbs. butter, melted

- ½ tsp. cinnamon

1. Crush your graham crackers until really fine. You can put them into a sealed plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin.

2. Mix all the ingredients together. 

3. Using a the back of a spoon, press your mix into a pie pan. Make sure to press it up the edges as well, making it nice and even all across.

4. Bake your pie crust for 7 minutes in a pre-heated oven of 375°.

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Same pie, but with a really yummy strawberry sauce! The filling ended up being a little bland, so this was perfect to add to it!

Berry Sauce:

Ingredients:

- Berries of your choice (+/- 3 cups)

- 1/4 cup of sugar

- 1/3 cup of water/juice

- 2 Tbs Corn starch

Defrost berries in a saucepan, and when they are warm, add the sugar. The berries should form their own juice as they defrost, but you can add a little extra juice or water if you wish. Mix the cornstarch in a little bit of water/juice in a separate cup until dissolved, and then add it to the berries once they reach a boil. Stir until thickened and remove immediately from heat to cool. 

  ---x---

Finally, today's quick throw together! Potato Poppers! These things are surprisingly easy to make, considering I had no idea what I was doing initially. They are super yummy though!

Potato Poppers:

- 1 cup mashed potatoes

- 1 cup cooked brown rice

- 1 cup whole grain bread crumbs

- 1/4 cup chopped onion

- 1/2 tsp. salt (or more if potatoes are not salted)

- 1 Tbs. tomato sauce

1. Simmer onion in a small amount of water

2. Combine all ingredience and form into 1.5 inch balls

3. Bake at 375 F until browned--roughly 15 minutes. 

Hope you enjoy!! =)