No Rest for the Weary

written 11/29/12

OK, so the title is not actually true, but it sure seems that way sometimes.  Especially when running on absolutely NO sleep last night.  I think this is only my 3rd ever "all-nighter" and I would prefer it be the last.  I am too old to lose an entire night of sleep anymore.

So, I have been under an incredible amount of pressure from multiple deadlines.  There just has not seemed to be time for everything and I could not figure out what needed to be cut.  Hence, cutting sleep last night in an attempt to meet two deadlines that occurred within hours of each other.  I met deadlines, but the final products for both were not exactly what I would have preferred had circumstances been different.  Still, both went much better than they could have and it is a relief to know that those two deadlines are past and I can now focus on the next one (Monday).  No rest for the weary...sigh.

In spite of the pressure, I still intentionally chose to have my usual quiet time this morning.  I know from experience that if I skip it, I will regret it the rest of the day no matter how badly I think I need the time for something else.  The day simply does not go as well if not started with focus on and time with God.  God rewarded me for my decision by providing just what I needed to be encouraged with! Plus, taking a break from the task actually allows me to approach things more effectively when I come back to the task. This is something I am still learning to better and more effectively incorporate. 

Excerpts from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
"Let Me infuse My Peace into your innermost being. As you sit quietly in the Light of My Presence, you can sense Peace growing within you. This is not something you accomplish through self-discipline or willpower; it is opening yourself to receive My blessing.  In this age of independence, people find it hard to acknowledge this neediness.  However, I have taken you along a path that has highlighted your need for Me; placing you in situations where your strengths were irrelevant and your weaknesses were glaringly evident. You have learned to thank Me for hard times and difficult journeys, trusting that through them I accomplish My best work.  You have realized that needing Me is key to knowing Me intimately, which is the gift above all gifts."

Excerpts and thoughts from 31 Days of Praise by Ruth Myers with Warren Myers
"I praise You for the gracious way You infuse me with inner strength through Christ...and so I'm ready for anything You want me to do, and I'm equal to anything You allow to happen in my life.  Thank You that I can throw the whole weight of my anxieties on You, for I am Your personal concern."  I must let go of burdens, inadequacies, self-dependence.  Instead, rest in God's presence. Joyfully depend on God.

My thoughts from both of the previous: just what I needed to be reminded of-I'm overwhelmed, pressured, tired and discouraged.  But, God knows me and carries me.  

The day ahead of me looked impossible.  I was unable to take my usual approaches to these types of situations.  Ordinarily, not being able to use familiar methods leaves me apprehensive of results.  I had to trust that God would enable me to perform to the best of my ability under the less-than-ideal circumstances and that He would give me the peace and strength needed.  I could tell others were praying for me last night.  I was more focused, more calm and more productive than normal even though also very tired and under lots of pressure.  It was amazing!  Once I had met deadlines this afternoon, there was noticeable release from the feelings of pressure and I actually was able to rest both physically and mentally.  God is faithful!  He gives strength and rest when needed.  In contrast to the statement in the title of this post, there is rest for the weary; it comes from God.

Thankfulness

"Thankfulness opens your heart to My Presence and your mind to My thoughts. You give Me thanks (regardless of your feelings), and I give you Joy (regardless of your circumstances)."
~Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

"When my heart is overwhelmed, I'm more aware of my need to cry to You...to take refuge in You...to rely on You. I rejoice that these things keep reminding me to depend on You with all my heart."
~31 Days of Praise by Ruth Myers & Warren Myers

Oatmeal Cranberry Spice Cookies

This is my latest recipe experiment! I am supposed to be taking it somewhat easy this afternoon and evening which meant my initial plan to swim laps this evening was not the greatest idea.  I decided baking cookies was an excellent alternative to exercise. :)

Oatmeal Cranberry Spice Cookies

1/2 c coconut oil
1 c brown sugar
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
1/4 c milk
1 1/2 c whole wheat flour
1/2 t salt
1 t soda
1 t cinnamon
1 t nutmeg
1/4 t ginger
1/4 t cloves
1/4 t allspice
3 c quick oats
1 c dried cranberries

Cream together oil and sugar, add eggs, vanilla and milk and mix.  Stir together flour, salt, soda and spices.  Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix.  Stir in oats, then cranberries.  Drop by spoonful onto cookie sheet and bake ~9 minutes at 350.

Of course, because apparently I find it difficult to simply follow a recipe, this recipe was made up just this evening.  It started from an idea and an oatmeal raisin cookie recipe.  The coconut oil was the first time I've ever used it.  Honestly, I did not notice any difference whatsoever from previously using butter (original recipe) or canola oil (one of my other experiments).  I will probably continue to use either butter or canola oil in the future.  I normally do not add milk, but the dough was too dry...so I added milk after the flour was mostly mixed in, but before adding oats.  The blend of spices and cranberry turned out very well!  An extra bonus: my kitchen-and the rest of my apartment-smells amazing!

*Disclaimer: I am NOT advocating baking cookies instead of exercising! :)

Tantalizing photos:

And...please still ignore dates on photos.  I STILL have battery problems and STILL cannot remember to change the date.

October already...

Autumn is a beautiful time of year.  I enjoy watching the trees change color, leaves fall and blow in the wind.  Each day brings a little bit different mix of colors and ever more leaves on the ground and falling.  The path I normally walk along is absolutely gorgeous and I am thoroughly enjoying my walks-when I get them in. :)

When Negative is Positive

I like contrasts and that is precisely what the title is!  It was also inspired by a comment my dad made when I let him know a result was negative.

OK, the story...
I somehow went from being very healthy, to being rather sick.  More accurately, I have been sick more than well since July of this year.  The reason at least partially has to do with the amount of stress I was under and that the stress has not exactly gone away yet.  The stress has lessened some in some areas, worsened in others, but overall, is still very present although less intense.  Anyway, I have been getting sick nearly every single weekend (as in respiratory infection with low fever and worsening of the ever-present cough that won't go away--nothing major, just annoying). So, last week, by Tuesday afternoon I finally was feeling better from the previous weekend's illness.  Yay!  Then, Thursday morning woke knowing I was starting the next round early.  Sigh.  I continued on with plans to go to Nebraska to be with family and finally have a mini-vacation of sorts since there was no chance for one during the summer.  I got to Lincoln Thursday evening, woke Friday morning feeling worse than ever.  By Sunday, I was so tired I fell asleep after church and before lunch, then fell asleep again after lunch and slept 3 more hours that afternoon.  Sunday evening, I was coughing so hard that my mom asked if I thought I had whooping cough...no.  But being curious, I looked up the symptoms of whooping cough (otherwise known as pertussis) and the description was an exact fit of what I was dealing with.  I figured chances were pretty slim that I actually had whooping cough since I was not aware of any exposure, my immunizations are all up to date, and it is rather uncommon, etc.  But, I also know others who had gotten it even though they'd been vaccinated.  So, once back in Iowa, I got in to the doctor and got checked just to be sure.  The tests results came back today-negative.  Yay!  So, being negative truly is positive! :)

Now, to figure out what I do have and get it to go away.  This cough has made me aware of abdominal muscles I didn't know I had...and that is in spite of my abdominal muscles actually being in decent shape from doing Pilates, stabilization and core-strengthening exercises regularly.  Between the cough, fever, headache, congestion, and lack of sleep from the cough, I really don't feel well.  Getting anything done is a major undertaking.  Hopefully, I can rest enough this weekend to start getting well again. :)

Recipes

Recipe 1: Tortillas

Here is the recipe for the tortillas I made awhile back.  It is based on the recipe I grew up making and although I did modify it a bit from the original, it is still mostly the same.

Tortillas
3 cups flour (I use 100% white whole wheat flour)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup butter (5 1/3 tablespoons)
1 cup warm water
Mix together dry ingredients.  Cut in butter.  Add water and mix.  Roll into circles and bake on medium heat griddle.

This made ~10 tortillas for me this time.  I froze the extras and so far, they thaw fine. :)

Recipe 2: Black Beans

This recipe is still in process as I've only made it twice and am not really working from any recipe at all-just making things up as I go along.  Thus, this is subject to much change!

So far:

Sort and rinse 2 cups of black beans

Cover beans with several inches of water and allow to soak overnight.

Drain and rinse beans, pour beans into crock pot.

Cover beans with several inches of water

Season to taste-options are endless! :)

I use:

2 teaspoons chili powder

2 teaspoons cumin

2 teaspoons onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Cook until beans are tender and desired consistency.  Once beans are soft, add salt to taste.  I use 1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt for this amount of beans. I have been cooking the beans on a combination of low and high for several hours.  I let them get so soft that they look like refried beans but I don't have to mash them or do anything with them.  Easiest way to make refried beans from scratch!   

These freeze and thaw very well!  

Notes: you can probably cook more beans at a time, but they spatter so much steam the way it is I've been afraid to try a larger batch.  Because they spatter steam, make sure nothing that can be damaged by water is near the crock pot.

Home made black beans!

Today

Today...
-I had to go back and locate the part that fell off of my car on the way to church.  This resulted in making me late to church, but I found the part and I did finally get to church!
-I took a nap instead of eating lunch as I was far more tired than hungry.
-I finally made tortillas after intending to do so all spring and summer.  They turned out very well!
-I confirmed that yes, I must really be getting sick again...the sore throat, tiredness, decreased appetite have now been joined by low grade fever...sigh.
-Giving God thanks for the day, all it has held and still holds, His faithfulness in meeting every need, sustaining in all things!

"This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24