Advent - Preparing my Heart

Do we spend as much time preparing our hearts for this Holiday as we do our homes? What would happen if we could say yes to this question? How would people react in a light shown as brightly in us as in the windows of our homes?

In preparing my home for Christmas this year, I realize there is a difference in me - good difference. There is a deeper love for my Savior. As I work to prepare my home for this Holiday Season so am I working at preparing my heart. With each decoration I set in place I ponder the miracle of His birth and what it means to me.

When Christ left the Heavenlies to come and live among us was there rejoicing in this supreme gift or was there anguish over the ultimate sacrifice? The sacrifice of God in giving His son, the sacrifice of the Son in giving His life for me for us. My home is aglow with lights and candles and I wonder, do I allow His light to shine in me to the fullest extent? As God gave His son to redeem my sins, can I give of myself equally? Am I a cheerful giver when the giving is difficult or costs something of myself? Is my giving an example of Christ in me?

I pray for an open heart, a genuine smile when the gifting is difficult.

Looking back

Looking back at my life I see a so many missteps, wrong turns and head banging on brick walls. It seems there is a tendency to focus on those and not the good things. At least right now.

I raised two daughters that I am proud of, but can a mother be at the same time proud and sorrowful over their daughter's decisions, judgements and opinions? What do you do when you raise them to be opinionated, self reliant and strong, but you find their opinions morally reprehensible, their strength allows for no weakness in themselves or others? I see a woman who demands tolerance but is the least tolerant of others. I have a sadness for the limits they put on themselves by demanding perfection in others.

My mother's love for them is strong, unfailing but there is a deep sadness in me.

So I pray, I pray to the God that my girls refuse to recognize. I pray for strength, courage, enlightenment for all of us. I pray that God will place someone in their paths that will show them the way. I pray that God will open their eyes, ears, minds and heart to His true word.
And I pray that God blesses me and mine.

Red Lentil Curry with Lamb

I have a friend in South Africa and love talking to her about the differences in cultures. One thing I am always asking is about her meals. Recently she told me about a Curry "mince", I found out later that mince is the term she uses for meat that has been browned.

Tonight I prepared a red lentil curry with minced lamb over basmati rice. I followed this recipe I found on line.

Red Lentil Curry
ingredients

• 2 cups red lentils
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons curry paste
• 1 tablespoon curry powder
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon ginger root, minced
• 1 (14.25 ounce) can tomato puree

Directions

1. Wash the lentils in cold water until the water runs clear (this is very important or the lentils will get "scummy"), put the lentils in a pot with water to cover and simmer covered until lentils tender (add more water if necessary).
2. While the lentils are cooking: In a large skillet or saucepan, caramelize the onions in vegetable oil.
3. While the onions are cooking, combine the curry paste, curry powder, turmeric, cumin, chili powder, salt, sugar, garlic, and ginger in a mixing bowl. Mix well. When the onions are cooked, add the curry mixture to the onions and cook over a high heat stirring constantly for 1 to 2 minutes.
4. Stir in the tomato puree and reduce heat, allow the curry base to simmer until the lentils are ready.
5. When the lentils are tender drain them briefly (they should have absorbed most of the water but you don't want the curry to be too sloppy). Mix the curry base into the lentils and serve immediately.

The change I made was the addition 1 lb of ground lamb, browned. I added this to the curry and mixed thoroughly. Served over rice this was super. Next time however I believe I will increase the spices as we like our food spicy hot.

I also served warm pita bread and some homemade date chutney.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving Calories: 192 | Total Fat: 2.6g | Cholesterol: 0mg

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to my friends
I have collected some wonderful quotes about mom's, children and a mother's love enjoy and remember to call your mother.

"Motherhood is the longest-running, continuous production of your life. Every day. Seven days a week. It doesn't matter if it's SRO or an empty house: You play to it. It doesn't matter if the critics love or hate your performance. The show never closes. Every day you climb into your costume and do the best you can, writing the script as you go along."
Erma Bombeck
May 14, 1989

If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go where a prayer has not already been. ~Robert Brault, www.robertbrault.com

Sweater, n.: garment worn by child when its mother is feeling chilly. ~Ambrose Bierce

Women's Liberation is just a lot of foolishness. It's the men who are discriminated against. They can't bear children. And no one's likely to do anything about that. ~Golda Meir

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child. ~Sophia Loren, Women and Beauty


If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands? ~Milton Berle

Derby Week and the 137th running of the Kentucky Oaks

Nothing says Louisville, Kentucky quite like Derby Week. This year I was surprised with tickets to Churchill Downs for the day of racing known at the Kentucky Oaks. This first Friday in May has been a tradition for It is actually a misnomer since the Oaks is only one race of the day. But to any native Louisvilian "the Oaks" is the best place to be this side of Heaven.

The Kentucky Oaks is considered by some to be among the most popular horse races in American horse-racing society due to its high attendance. With a purse of 1 Million, this isn't just another race.

Believe it or not it's not just about horse racing, it's about the hat and if ya'll are planning on visiting for the Oaks - please be prepared, you can wear any color as long as it is PINK . Pink hats, dresses, shoes, for the ladies, and yes even Pink for the guys, Pink jackets, bow ties or fedoras are the rule. It is also neat to see how one race can make huge differences outside of horse racing and Kentucky. Churchill Downs contributes $1 for every Oaks attendee to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and $1 for every Oaks Lily® beverage sold to Horses and Hope. In 2010, Churchill Downs contributed more than $116,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and $30,000 to Horses and Hope.

Another wonderful tradition is the Garland of Lilies this is a handmade blanket of lilies crafted for the winning filly. Hence the name for the race Lilies for the Fillies.

The Star Gazer Lily was a perfect choice for the garland, chosen for its femininity and strength. An amazing 133 lilies are hand sewn onto a white moire fabric backing with a fleur-de-lis pattern. Folks in Louisville can view the lily garland at a local Kroger store the evening before the race.

Another component if you will is the Official drink of the "Oaks"
The Oaks Lily® ingredients include:

• 1 oz. Vodka
• 1 oz. Sweet and Sour Mix
• 3 oz. Cranberry Juice
• Splash of Triple Sec
  

Shake well and pour over ice and you have a wonderful concoction that resembles the Stargazer Lily. Hummmmm

I will post more as the week continues. But check out the web for the Kentucky Derby, the Oaks and Louisville.

Passover Dinner

As a Christian I find it interesting that I love planning and executing my Passover / Seder dinner. Last year R and I have 23 guests for dinner, that means two dinning rooms tables set together in the great room. Since I had enough china and sterling the only thing missing was the glassware for wine, water, tea etc. That accounts for at least 4 glasses per person hmmm 4 multiplied by 23 is 92, do you have enough stemware for 92 friends? I'm sorry I don't. What is a girl to do? Why set the table with Spode Blue Italian, Towle Chippendale silver and the Dollar tree glassware. Honestly, if anyone noticed they didn't say a word. My philosophy is if you mix and match with the good stuff i/e/ Spode then no one will notice the cheap stuff. LOL Or so I tell myself.

So all that said, to say I have sent the invitations for my friends to save the date for this years Passover. Yes I a Christian, however, I firmly believe that All Christians should be celebrating a Passover dinner, think about it, Christ died after he celebrated Passover. Shouldn't this be part of our tradition?

I love this time, probably as much as I love Christmas. I look forward to the event; the friends, the meal; the planning, and the significance of the time and the meal. I love the prayers throughout the meal, the commemoration of the original Passover. Why don't Christians celebrate this event. Why are we ignorant of this event?

In the coming weeks I will share the planning and preparation of this meal/celebration along with pictures to show wonderful china and silver and Shabby chic glassware.

Think about having your own Passover /Seder dinner. Friends will love you for it and all information can be found on the net.

In Rememberance of a Sweet Lady Dear Elsie

When I was a little girl, my parents had two friends that I adored. As a family we would go to Elsie and Eddie's house for visits. It was a grand house as grand as anything I had ever been exposed to. The first house that I remember which had a "Formal" living room. The furnishings were elegant, tasteful and refined. Something out of the movies, her house could have been given a spread in Southern Living.

My parents loved them and they likewise loved mom and daddy. Never to have children, why I don't know mom and daddy gave Elsie an Eddie the choice of selecting my name. I'm not sure why or where they came up with Christy; but the middle name of Lee was Eddie's. Maybe that was the start of the strong bond I have always felt for them. Elsie told the story of when in my infancy I was croupy, fussy, she and Eddie would come over after dinner and take me for long rides around town. Yes I was one of those children who was chauffered around town in the days before car seats to be soothed. Why did Elsie and Eddie do it? So simple really, they had the car!

When we went for visit on Saturday evening, the visit would always end with a grand finale and that would be Elsie giving an organ recital and the last song played would be daddy's favorite at full volume, The Battle Hymn of the Republic; played loud enough to shake the pictures on the walls, wake the dead and convert the sinners : )

I remember getting to go for extended visits in the summer and spend time with Elsie's mother Mrs. Shad. Mrs. Shad was one of the lovely southern ladies who had a wonderful scent that was inherently hers, lilacs and gardenias. A tiny little woman who I can still see in my minds eye teaching me to add spoonfuls of batter to muffin cups a little at a time, "because you see it is so much easier to add a little rather than take some out" . It's funny there is not a time when I make muffins or bake that I don't hear her voice.

When I moved back to Louisville in 2007 Elsie and I would chat on the phone, I particularly remember one evening when she lectured me strongly not to be like her. I can hear her voice as if it were still echoing in the walls, don't live in the past, it's true your husband died and I am sorry and I know you miss him, but Christy Lee do not live the rest of your life alone, this was the only time she ever spoke sternly to me. She knew what she was talking about, Eddie left this life in the early part of the '70's. Elsie never married and only in last 10 years did she have a suitor. I promised her I would not cordon off my heart and I would live life fully.

Why am I remembering all of this? My dear Elsie died this past November and for many reasons that I can't begin to explain I only found out today. My heart is breaking that I was not able to pay my respects for my dear sweet friend. I am grieving, ashamed and embarrassed that I did not call more often to check up her. Or that I did not ask her to post my name and number somewhere so someone could call me in the event that she needed me.

I know that where she is she has forgiven me, I pray in time I can forgive myself.

Please please people if you have elderly in your life that you love, find a way for events in their lives to be passed along to you.