Our New Food Journey

Luke and I LOVE food. I think one of my dream jobs would be like Julianne from My Best Friend's Wedding - the VIP that has the kitchen busting out something especially delicious for me in order for their restaurant to get a good review! I could totally be a food critic!

I am very fortunate that Luke will eat pretty much everything. Except fish, much to my dismay. But other than seafood, I can put anything in front of him, and he'll try it! We love being adventurous together, and food is one of our favourite adventures!

Earlier this year I discovered this blog : The 52 New Foods Challenge. Basically, this family tried a new food every single week for a year. What a great idea! We love food, we love trying new things, let's put them together!

A new food every week seemed a little overwhelming to me, so instead, we decided to just try one new food every month. That way, we can try 3 or 4 different recipes with that food so we can really get a feel for it and decide if we like it or not!

I thought I would share our journey with you to maybe challenge or inspire you!

Persimmons.

Persimmons come in two main kinds. Our local grocery store supplies Fuyu persimmons, so that's the kind I used in all of my recipes. It looks like a small tomato, it's orange in colour, and it has a subtly sweet flavour. They're also super healthy! High in fibre, high in anti-oxidants, and tons of vitamins and minerals. Delish!!

We've tried persimmons 5 different ways - eating them raw and topping some yogurt with them, in a smoothie, in some grilled cheese, in a salsa, and finally in some jam.

Ok. We are big fans of persimmons!!!

Eating them raw, mixing them in some yogurt, or tossing them in a smoothie are all super easy and super tasty ways to eat persimmons.

Last summer I made my first "sugar free, pectin free, chia seed jam" recipe with blueberries and I will never go back! This was also a chia seed jam using blackberries, persimmons, fresh squeezed orange juice, and a little honey to sweeten. Delicious on some toast or spread over pancakes! I would even top vanilla ice cream with it! 

Probably my favourite recipe for the persimmons was as a salsa side dish. Some black beans, avocado, mango, and persimmons tossed with olive oil, fresh squeezed lime juice, cumin, and chili powder. Chopping the fruit in thick cubes makes for a simple, tasty side dish, or chopping them smaller would be good for dipping tortilla chips in. 

Luke's favourite was the grilled cheese.  This was a little more work, but totally worth it! We used brie because it gave a nice subtle flavour with tons of melty cheesiness, some prosciutto for a little salt, a little spicy brown mustard and some nice thick slices of raw persimmon. Great flavour combo!

We are excited to try lots of new foods this year! Next up - Spaghetti Squash!

If My Words Abide in You...

I have been journeying and "word choosing" for 4 years now. I began with ABOUND, moved into BELOVED, grew into NOURISH, and dove into DILIGENT. (links to the last two are here and here)

I love naming my years because God always surprises me. And I do so love surprises! Truly, I always set up expectations for my word and what it will look like to actively live it out over the year. And I always end up learning even more than I had planned. This year will be no different, and boy do I have high expectations for this year!

First lets talk about DILIGENT, aka. 2014. 

Discipline is one of Luke's strongest qualities, and since opposites attract it happens to be one of my weakest. Allow me to briefly describe how I attempted to remedy my lack of discipline this year.

After some painful stomach issues this year, I had to learn to be much more diligent about what we ate. I cut some things out of our diet this year, and I became very conscious about what kind of foods I consumed. It's still a work in progress, but I think we're doing well! I even tried over 40 new recipes this year, and hope to continue that into 2015!

I became more diligent about my quiet times, as well as purposely setting time aside to listen to pastors that I look up to, enjoying three or four sermons a week. (Now I just need to be more "diligent" about taking notes!! *sigh*)

I read more books this year. We signed up for library cards mid-way through the year and I ended up reading about 15 new books this year. Hopefully even more next year, although admittedly, we've been enjoying the seasons of Monk that we recently discovered at the library and thus have been checking out less books! :)

And now for the bad news. One thing that I was not diligent about was Scripture memorization. I am so very passionate about hiding God's Word in my heart, and I love coming across a passage that I know by heart when I'm reading through a chapter or book. I memorized part of Mary's Magnificat as my December advent this year, but that was all.

That brings us to 2015's word.

Starting in September, I dove into John Piper's sermon series on the Gospel of John (find it here - I know 70 sermons looks overwhelming, but I promise it's worth it. Just take one at a time. I seriously can't say enough about this series! I'm about half way through, so feel free to ask me about my favourites!) 

One of those favourites was this one - "If My Words Abide in You" speaking on John 15:1-7. It was also the inspiration for my word this year. If you only listen to one of the seventy sermons, make it this one. There is something SO powerful about a pastor reciting memorized Scripture from the pulpit. 

About three years ago, I memorized the entire book of 2 Timothy. It has always been my favourite book of the Bible, and after spending about six months submerged right into it, reading and re-reading it, committing it to memory and speaking it out loud over and over, I found that I learned more from that experience than any other Bible study I had ever done. I lived and breathed this book. And though I still feel that there is so much more for me to learn about it, memorizing it word for word was a very good start. 

I want to do that again.

I haven't decided for sure which book is next, but I know that I want to really turn my focus onto memorization this year. 

The Scripture that is first on my memorization list is where my "one word" comes from and it's found in Colossians 2:6-7

"Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, ROOTED and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." 

Oh The Blood!

Easter is upon us! I love this time of year! I love the new life that Spring promises. There is so much symbolism to be found in Spring, and I'm so glad that it's finally here. Well, almost….

This weekend was beautiful for both body and spirit. 

This weekend was Palm Sunday, and I lifted my own palms in praise to Him whose palms were pierced. HIS body was broken so that MY body could be whole again. 

And what is there for me to do but be thankful? Oh how I raise my palms even higher! Hosanna!! Hosanna!! [literally: a joyful exclamation of adoration and praise] My heart cries Hosanna.

And I kneel at the cross and I nail to the cross all that is holding me back from my Hosanna. I feel renewed. I feel refreshed. I am ready.

But it's only Tuesday and I'm already ungrateful. And what was it that took me down?

Snow. 

Snow in April. A little inch of pure white covering the ground this morning and my shouts of Hosanna have become sighs of frustration. Oh heart - why must you be so fickle?

I myself have to admit that the brown dirt and the patchy grass and all the leaves and sticks that make up our yard leave something to be desired. Surely it would take a keen eye to find any beauty here. 

But isn't my heart just the same? With it's dirty past and broken patchy pieces and all the sin and the stains? Surely it would take a keen eye to find any beauty there. Well… more than a keen eye. 

A Master's eye.
A Creator's eye.
A Lover's eye.

And He saw something there - amidst the broken - something worth more. More than the whipping. More than the spitting. More than the piercing. More than the bleeding.

And He tenderly wrapped my dirt in something pure and white and clean so that I could stand before the Father unashamed with my lifted palms. He washes me. And He covers me. 

I guess the snow isn't so bad, is it?

Today, I will choose Hosanna!

In So Many Words

Well, it seems I haven't officially blogged for about six months. I'm hoping to change that. Oi. 

As December drifts away and a brand new year rings in I always look forward to hearing the "One Little Word" that God has chosen for those around me. God has chosen. Don't get it wrong - you have nothing to do with it! The Holy Spirit is the one who leads us to The Word and He is also the one who will lead you to your word. 

My word is always revealed to me through God's Word.

In 2011 it was ABOUND. "And this is my prayer: that your love may ABOUND more and more in knowledge and depth of insight." Phil. 1:9

In 2012 it was BELOVED. "I am my BELOVED's and he is mine." SOS 6:3

In 2013 it was NOURISH. "Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and NOURISHment to your bones." Prov. 3:7-8

Typically, the word that speaks to me appears directly in the Word. It surprised me that this year God and I formed a single word based on a handful of His Words. So that His Word could become my word…. in not so many words. 

The Scripture that stood out to me in December is found at the end of Galatians. I haven't done a whole lot of studying in the book of Galatians, but I know that Paul talks to the churches about getting swept up in legalism. There was a Jewish-turned-Christian culture in Galatia that was a little confused and Paul speaks out against them in this book. 

"Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."
Gal. 6:12-14

I am right there with you Paul! 

I want to boast in Jesus. 
I want to be crucified to the world. 
I want to rebel against my current culture. 

Because let's face it - our culture has already gone downhill fast and apparently hasn't reached rock bottom yet because they still aren't standing on the Rock. But I chose the Rock many years ago so why do I still eye that slimy pit? 

A little earlier in the same chapter….

"The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."
Gal. 6:8-10

And that was it.  

Sow to please the Spirit. 
Do not grow weary. 
Keep doing good.
And do not give up.
Do not give up.
Do not give up.

be DILIGENT.

Eternity On The Heart

After a short, unplanned leave from blogging this summer, my first post back is actually on someone else's blog! :)

About a month ago my sweet friend Katie Reid asked me to be a guest blogger for her series on Isaiah 40. I have to admit I was very nervous! I got to spend a few weeks studying the chapter, but especially the verse that I got to write about....

A voice says "Cry!" And I said "What shall I cry?"

All flesh is like grass, and all it's beauty is like the flowers of the field.

Isaiah 40:6

Please enjoy my post on "The God Who Is Eternal" as well as the entire Isaiah 40 series!

http://echoesofmyheartcd.blogspot.com/2013/10/isaiah-406-god-who-is-eternal.html

Barefoot Sunday

As most of you know, we attend Riverside Church - the church Luke's grandpa started and that his uncle now pastors. Growing up brethren, this church is sometimes a bit of a stretch for me, but I'm glad that we can honour Luke's family by supporting it. 

This week, Paul challenged The Body to "get your serve on".

Most churches encourage serving. Because most churches have 10% of the people doing 90% of the work. They need more help within the church, so the pastor adds in a message about rewards in heaven in the hopes that the flock will begin to step up. But this Sunday was not about serving in the church. It wasn't about needing more Sunday School teachers or more greeters or more people in the worship band. No - in true Paul Booko fashion it was about outreach. What I appreciate so much about him is that his heart is for evangelism and he has a vision for outreach that continues to grow.

He put a picture on the screen that will forever be etched on my heart. I scoured the internet for something like it, but I couldn't find anything that did this picture justice, so let me just describe it to you.

It was a picture of a child - it could have been any child, because we didn't get to see their face. Maybe a little girl who danced around the kitchen, twirling and jumping over and over as her sweet soft giggle drifted through the house. Or maybe it was a little boy, running through the street chasing a baseball that had been thrown just a little too high for him to reach. Whatever this child had done - in work or in play - to wear out their shoes, it was clear that they certainly had worn out. In fact, not only were they worn through, they were also grown out of. But because money was tight (or maybe even non-existent), new shoes were a luxury this child did not receive. Rather, the toes of their current shoes were cut off so that, even though they may not fit anymore, the little feet could continue to wear them. And that was the picture that spoke volumes to my soul - a close-up of little feet in too-small worn out shoes, with dusty dirty toes hanging over the edge of them. 

We sat. 
We listened. 
We FELT the need. We ACHED for it. 
It crawled right up into my throat and it gripped me. 

And my mind raced to the things that Luke and I currently do to serve the least of these and what more can we do? Please - I want to do more. Intentions are always big. Outcomes are often small.

And then we were presented with an opportunity. When I really think about it now, it seems somewhat radical, and yet in the moment, it did not catch me off guard. 

We were asked to give away our shoes. To clothe the unclothed. To give to those who can't give back. To be the hands and bare feet of Jesus.

I am ashamed to admit - it was hard for me at first. Not the part about being uncomfortable. Not the part about it being inconvenient. But the part about giving away something that was truly valuable to me - even if it was only a pair of sandals. If someone told me they were collecting shoes to be donated, I would run right home and gather up a whole bag of shoes from the back of my closet and happily give them away. But the shoes that I'm wearing right now? The ones that I wear every day? My favourites? That's tough. THAT is what sacrificial giving is about.  

So we walked up and we took off our shoes and we placed them on the alter. On the alter. The same place I brought my ungratefulness, my need for control, and my wrong motivations. A pair of sandals were not the only thing I left on the alter on Sunday.

And we all walked away barefoot. And we all walked away on Holy Ground. I removed my shoes and I removed what was interfering in my relationship with my Maker so that I could come to Him vulnerable and He could heal that which was broken. And I stood for a moment barefoot on the Holy Ground. 

And it was good.

"Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, 
and He will reward them for what they have done."

Proverbs 19:17

Spring Surprises

I am a huge fan of lists! I never used to be, but when you marry someone who makes lists for everything you have to learn to love them.

At the beginning of each week I write out the big things I want to accomplish, then at the beginning of each day I make a list of the specifics. Luke is similar. We write lists for grocery shopping as well as meals for the week. Packing lists, reading lists, you name it - we list it!

This week's list included a lot of "spring" cleaning. I use that word loosely since it's still only 30-something degrees here in the great state of Michigan. But I digress. Spring is almost on its way and we are all in need of some refreshing. 

Enter Luke Kleczynski. Man, I love him!! He knows that I've been dragging for a few weeks now - there's been a restlessness about me that has made my days rather long and difficult. But he's sure that a list will fix that. I came downstairs to find this at my place at the table a few mornings ago....

I thank God for such a logical and practical man to do life with. He truly is perfect for me. And this will be my To Do List for today and for every day. 

So now that I've been spending time cleaning up indoors, our backyard is a whole other issue. I'm positive that the previous owners had "let is go" for a number of years because it looks a little something like this. Except less cool and with more squirrels. Luke spent a number of hours this past weekend pulling up roots, sawing down branches, and doing a general de-clutter of our little jungle. We know it will likely take us all summer to make it presentable, which would be an overwhelming and dizzying task, but for the new life we have found. Take a look....

Yes. Beneath the shade of a giant hardwood maple tree and in a particularly inconvenient spot, Luke found these little lives sprouting up. What a beautiful Resurrection Sunday surprise - Beauty from dust. A reflection of my own life to be sure - for as Jesus rose from the dead, so did I. [And I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.] Thank you Lord for new life and for new experiences and for a renewed spirit. And like this delicate crocus, I promise to bloom where I am planted.

"Bloom where I am planted" - that's secret code for this - I WAS OFFERED A JOB!!! :)