2010 November | CourtLynn Street

A Culture of Stuff

November 29, 2010 Courtney No comments

10 Easy Ways to Give to Others

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We have become a culture of stuff.

This should not surprise me. I, myself, am guilty of my fair share of “retail therapy.” Even if I’m “getting a good deal,” I’m acquiring stuff. And stuff can enslave us.

My husband, on the other hand, is a true giver. His generosity puts me to shame. And I’m hoping some of it will rub off on me eventually.

So, this year, I’m hoping to be a little more open handed in my giving — and a lot less like Ebenezer Scrooge.

Here are 10 easy ways I’ve thought of to give to others:

1. Pass on the gift card to someone who needs it more.

2. Prepare shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. (next year, as this is already past it’s deadline-but it’s my favorite one to do with my children)

3. Pay for the order ahead or behind me in line at the drive-thru.

4. Take cookies to my neighbors, even if I don’t know them.

5. Walk out to the garbage collectors with “to go” cups of coffee.

6. Treat someone outside of my household to a big ticket item.

7. Donate a stack of brand new, not ratty, overused books.

8. Take a box of groceries to the local food pantry.

9. Randomly give a $20 bill to a tired looking mom.

10. Give an extra big tip next time we eat out.

I must confess that I’m chicken to do many of these things. They take stepping out of my comfort zone. They take extra effort. They take guts.

But, God has given me much. And why should I not give, too?

Help me think of other easy, but good ways to give!

Just Like The Leaves

November 27, 2010 Courtney No comments

I got this in e-mail yesterday and thought it was a perfect picture especially since fall is my favorite season. I will never look the same way at an amber colored tree again!

Just Like the Leaves

Marybeth Whalen

“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.”

Mark 8:35 (NIV)

As I write this, it is fall and the leaves are changing in a glorious display of color. Each landscape looks like God Himself personally painted it–red, yellow, orange and green. I marvel as I drive, soaking in the visual display that is a feast for the eyes, thanking God for His creativity and care for even the smallest of details on this earth.

When my daughter asked me one day why the leaves change color, I scanned the recesses of my brain for this most basic of elementary science facts. But there was nothing there. I patted my daughter and assured her, yet again, that we would learn this answer together. (Sometimes my children wonder if I ever went to school and–if I did–how it is I managed to retain precious little.)

We read a book together and learned why the leaves change color. The leaves are slowly dying, their hold on the tree loosening a little more every day. The more they detach, the more a substance within them called chlorophyll dissipates. Chlorophyll is green in color, which causes the whole leaf to appear green. But when the chlorophyll is gone, other colors have a chance to surface. The red, gold, and orange colors were within the leaf all along–they were just overshadowed by the presence of the chlorophyll. It took the process of dying for their glorious color to be displayed.

We are in the process of dying every day, just like those leaves. When we choose to follow Christ, He asks us to take up our cross and follow Him, engaging in a daily process of giving up our rights, our pride, and ourselves in the name of service, giving and submitting. It is the painful work of death, yet in it we find colors we didn’t know were there emerging. Once our sense of self and entitlement overshadowed us, coloring us an eternal–yet common–green. In the dying process, we find that God designed us to be more brilliant and colorful as we surrender our lives to Him.

People are drawn to this colorful display. They want to know how they too can break out of their same old green-colored lives and live with this kind of brilliance. In our humanness, we want to cling to the security of the tree – the security of money, or family, or our comfort zones and routines. But God asks us to let go, to trust Him, and to die a little more every day. We must trust the dying process and encourage others to do the same, displaying our colors so that people far from Him are drawn to Him, just as He intended.

Dear Lord, I don’t want to live a me-colored life. Please show me how, through dying to self, Your brilliant colors can be displayed in me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Original Link to Proverbs 31 ministries:

http://devotions.proverbs31.org/2010/11/26/just-like-the-leaves/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+p31encouragement+(P31+Encouragement+for+Today)

My cup truly overflows with blessings.

Don’t get me wrong — life is far from “perfect.” But, oh my! What good there is in my life. God has been so gracious to me! Let me count the ways….

1. My husband who puts up with all sorts of emotion, indecision, and demands — mine! He loves me truly and is happy to make me happy. He is one in a million.

2. My son who is so unique and already a strong little individual. He brings me untold laughs, love, and joy, even in the midst of loving discipline.

3. My daughter who, while she is way more complex than her brother, offers me a different kind of companionship, help, and love. She makes me laugh with her girly silliness and is already sensitive to the needs of those around her.

4. My parents who are proud of me even when I do nothing special. If anyone overesteemed my abilities, it is them. But, it’s nice to have a little fan club.

5. My sisters who have humored me over the years and loved me despite my bossy big sister tendencies.

6. My in-laws who even amidst their own busy schedules take time for us and bring such fun to our whole family dynamic.

7. My friends who listen to me vent, encourage me to keep to the narrow path, and love me despite my many faults.

8. You, my dear readers, who keep me from talking to myself.

So, let me ask you….
What are YOU thankful for this Thanksgiving?

My Husband’s Grandfather ~ My Fondest Memories

November 16, 2010 Courtney No comments

Papa (Earl) Bickford was an incredible man. He died today after a weekend battle with pneumonia and some other complications including some abdominal issues and kidney failure. Let me take you back to the beginning. I met Papa when I had just graduated from high school over 12 years ago. My husband and I were good friends (not dating or married of course) and he invited me to his high school graduation party. Scott has three other cousins who all graduated from the same school together. What a neat family, and such a blessing to all go to school together. They even had the same teacher in fifth grade…Their own aunt! Anyway, I digress. I met Papa at this party. He was inviting and cheerful and ornery all at the same time! He gave me his famous bear hug right away. I would learn a lot from this man…But at the time he was just a friendly grandpa of a good friend. Scott and I would go on to date all four years of college and get married that following fall in 2002. Nearly every family event happens at Papa’s house, if not the house right next door where their oldest daughter, Linda lives. (Affectionately known as Deeta) With such a large family, I saw Papa almost weekly. Whether just dropping by to say hello, hang out with Scott’s family on a Friday night, or celebrating one of the 30+ birthdays during the year, he was always there along with his wonderful wife, Nana (Lois) and the rest of their grown up children, their children and grandchildren.

The best part about this family that I am proud to now call my own, is their love for Jesus Christ. We may not be the most perfect group, but we are perfectly forgiven through the blood of Christ. And it all started with one man falling in love with one woman. I never knew how Papa came to know the Lord, but I’m sure one of these days one of his girls will tell me when we are all past our grieving for the loss of Papa on Earth. He raised his girl’s right, and through the work of the Holy Spirit, they all came to know Christ. That is a legacy that I pray my husband and I can leave behind with our children as well. Papa was such an awesome role model. None of us wanted to leave his hospital room this past weekend, as we just couldn’t bear to be without him. What were we to do now? Continue to bring glory to Christ through this circumstance. That’s what Papa would have done. As I sit here in tears, I can think of such wonderful things that Papa did and how he acted that bring a smile to my face even in my sorrow. He was always happy, even if he was hurting from stretching his body too far in his old age. He was a strong guy and darn if he was going to let anyone except those closest to him know he was in pain. Whenever you asked how he was, he almost always said something silly such as “Ornery as ever.” Or “Just trying to get into (or stay out of) trouble” Everyone who crossed Papa’s path was his instant friend. Of course family always came first, but everyone knew Earl and the family that he held dear. Papa and Nana were wonderfully generous with everything they have. They worked hard for what they have, and God has blessed them in countless ways. Scott and I love to hold our children’s birthday parties in their back yard, where kids can swim in the pool (or in the sandbox) and have a fire in the fire pit, camp out on the lawn, ride go carts down the drive or sit and talk; All in the same day or night! Sometimes there were so many people coming and going from their house, I wondered if they thought they had no privacy. I sure know that I always got a smile from them whenever we all piled through their open door.

I will miss Papa and the old life that having him around meant. I will long for our family to all be reunited with him in heaven. I know that those God chooses to leave behind have work still to be done on Earth and that God took Papa at exactly the time he had planned. Papa now has very special work to be done with Jesus in Heaven and right now he is enjoying his new body that is without suffering and pain. He’s enjoying the ultimate homecoming party with Christ and those who were waiting for him. Jesus has perfected Papa’s faith and finished authoring the story that He so carefully and lovingly wrote for our grandfather. I am truly blessed to consider myself one of his grandkids. He will always be remembered by his four daughters, their husbands, their twelve children and the fifteen great grandchildren ranging in age from 8 years old to 8 weeks old.

We miss you already Papa. What a beautiful day it was today when you left us behind, if only for a little while. I love you.

~Courtney

Praise to God for a Living Hope

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade–kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire– may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. I Peter 3:1-9

Surviving the Holidays

November 14, 2010 Courtney No comments

How to Have a Restful, Memorable, & Meaningful Holiday Season

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Fall, Back to School, Halloween, Daylight Saving Time, these milestones have passed. 2010 is quickly drawing to a close. “The Holidays” are upon us.

A man once said, “Boy, the holidays are rough. Every year I just try to get from the day before Thanksgiving to the day after New Year’s.”

The potential is certainly there to shift into “survival mode” between Thanksgiving and the start of the New Year. Yet, whatever happened to this being “the most wonderful time of the year?” Now is the time to be proactive and make the coming weeks restful, memorable, and meaningful.

So how do we enter the season with these goals in mind?

Purposefully

If we want the next six weeks to be restful, memorable, and meaningful, then we need to have some plans. Does money cause you stress? Then set a holiday budget and stick to it. Are you looking for ways to capture sweet memories with your kids? Then consider ways to play more games, read more books, and unplug a little more in the coming weeks. Will cooking a big meal send you into a frenzy? Plan some freezer-friendly dishes or easy crockpot recipes and take a load off.

Develop plans today that will help you enjoy the experience.

Photo Source

Peacefully

Have you been burning the candle at both ends? Does this mean that November and December will be more harried for you? Just say, “No.” Now.

Put margin into your life. Go to sleep earlier. Sleep a little later. Exercise. Drink lots of water. And prioritize.

Do family get-togethers hinder your restfulness during this time of year? Discuss this with your spouse now and problem-solve together. Think of ways to relieve some of the stresses and make the holidays more enjoyable. Maybe you won’t make four stops on Christmas Eve and 2 more the next day. If staying home gives you peace, then this is the year to be peaceful!

Spend your holiday season in ways that help you reach your goals.

Practically

You can’t do it all. And sometimes what sounds good in November has you pulling your hair out a few weeks later. Be okay with changing your plans.

Be practical and revisit your goals. Is this restful? Is this memorable — in a good way? Is this meaningful? If an activity doesn’t fit that criteria and can be avoided, well, I say, “Ditch it.”

Enough is as good as a feast. So says Ma Ingalls, and I agree. You don’t need to go overboard. Your cheery disposition will bless your family more than any sugarplums can.

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Prayerfully

I know from experience that when I set off on plans and adventures, those plans and adventures have a much better way of turning out well if I’ve spent time praying and reflecting first. This isn’t because I’ve manipulated God. We can’t do that.

Instead, when I take my hopes and plans to God, He shows me the right way to go. He changes my desires to better fit me and my family.By His Spirit, He clues me into folly that might await me if I go “my” way.

CS Lewis is quoted as saying, “I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time — waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God — it changes me.

Prayer is not about us getting what we want. It’s about God changing us to want what is good for us. Let’s go into the holidays with this mindset.

The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. — Proverbs 16:9

How will YOU enter the season?

Granola Bars

November 10, 2010 Courtney No comments

So yesterday my sister calls me and I can tell right away she is eating while trying to talk to me. She tells me that she just made the most delicious granola bar recipe ever, and that I needed to take the recipe and make it for myself. I’m not sure if it was the chomping and chewing in the background that made it sound like a good thing, or simply the fact that I’ve been wanting to make granola bars for quite a while, but all the recipes I found sounded very involved. When I hung up, almost immediately she emailed me the recipe. My sister and I are very similar in our cooking styles only by way of taking a recipe and tweaking it exactly how we want to. I can’t remember the last time I followed a recipe exactly to the tee! So with a little tweakage (Is that a word?) here is “our” granola bar recipe.

Natural Granola Bars

1 T Virgin unrefined, coconut oil
1 1/4 C old fashioned organic rolled oats
1 1/4 C chopped nuts (Walnuts, almonds, pecans, macadamia…whatever floats your boat)
1/2 C oat bran (or flakey cereal a little crushed up)
1 1/2 C unsweetened crisp brown rice cereal (or you can use Rice Krispies if that’s what you’ve got)
1 C dried fruit (I used craisins, my sister likes a dried berry mix from Trader Joe’s)
3 T chopped crystallized ginger (a must, but I chopped them in my magic bullet and added this to the syrup on the stove…see assembly instructions)
1 C brown rice syrup
1/4 C natural cane sugar
1 tspn vanilla extract
1/2 tspn sea salt

Grease baking pan with coconut oil (8×8 or 9×13)
For a store bought look I used a medium bar pan from pampered chef, it’s approx 12×6 by only 1 inch high

Mix oats, nuts, oat bran, cereal, fruit and ginger** together in a bowl, set aside

In small sauce pan combine rice syrup, sugar, vanilla and salt over medium heat and stir until it comes to a boil and thickens just a bit. About 4 minutes.

Pour over oat mixture and stir until evenly incorporated.

Spread in prepared pan and cool to room temp. Cut into whatever size and/or shape you’d like! Enjoy. Keep tightly wrapped for up to three or four days.

Swagbucks

November 10, 2010 Courtney No comments

Beignet Recipe

November 09, 2010 Courtney No comments

Beignet Recipe:

1 cup lukewarm water

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg, room temperature and beaten

2 tablespoons butter, softened

1/2 cup evaporated milk

4 cups bread flour or all-purpose flour

3 teaspoons instant active dry yeast

Vegetable oil*

Powdered sugar for dusting

* Use just enough vegetable oil to completely
cover beignets while frying.

beignet and coffee Using a mixer with a dough hook, place water,
sugar, salt, egg, butter, evaporated milk, flour, and yeast in the bowl.
Beat until smooth.

If using a bread machine, select dough setting and press
Start. When dough cycle has finished, remove dough from pan and turn out
onto a lightly oiled surface. form dough into an oval, place in a LARGE lightly
greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until well chilled (3
to 4 hours) or overnight.

To prepare dough, remove from refrigerator and
roll out on a lightly floured board to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut into
approximately 3-inch squares or circles.

In a deep fryer or large pot, heat vegetable
oil to 360 degrees F. Fry the beignets (2 or 3 at a time) 2 to 3 minutes or
until they are puffed and golden brown on both sides, turning them in the
oil with tongs once or twice to get them evenly brown; beignets will rise to
the surface of the oil as soon as they begin to puff. NOTE: If the beignets
don’t rise to the top immediately when dropped into the oil, the oil is not
hot enough. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels, then sprinkle heavily
with powdered sugar. Serve hot.

The dough can be kept for up to a week
in the refrigerator – it actually improves with age; just punch down when it
rises. Dough can also be frozen; cut and roll, or shape doughnuts before
freezing.)

Makes 18 beignets.

Original Link

Advent…Something to look forward to

November 09, 2010 Courtney No comments

Written by Sharon Kaufman, Contributing Writer for Keeper of the Home.org

What and When is Advent?

The word "advent" means arrival or coming in Latin. Specifically, it relates to the coming of the Christ at the incarnation. Advent is celebrated in the weeks leading up to the day we set aside to remember the birth of the Messiah. It begins four Sundays before December 25, whether that Sunday is in November or December. This year Advent begins on Sunday, November 28th. However, when using an Advent calendar, counting down the days till Christmas begins either 24 or 25 days before, usually on December 1st or 2nd.

Why Do People Celebrate Advent?

Thousands of years before Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us, God's people anticipated His coming. They longed and looked for the Messiah, the One who would set things right. During that time of waiting, no one knew when or how God would send the Promised One to redeem mankind.

On this side of Bethlehem when celebrating Advent, in essence, we are re-enacting the many years that God's people waited patiently and anticipated the coming of the Messiah, man's only hope for restoration with God. Now that the waiting, is over we have all the more reason to rejoice because of God's indescribable gift of LOVE, His own Son. In a world that has no place for Jesus, Advent really is about preparing our hearts for the Savior – making room for and receiving Him with joy, humility and gratitude into our lives, celebrations and families.

Image by kelanew

Recycle bin calendar. Who said you can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear?

The Advent Calendar – A Wonderful Way to Teach Your Child About the Gospel

Advent serves a tool to point our children to Christ, the Promised Savior. An Advent calendar, as a family tradition, is one way children can become acquainted with the details of the incarnation. The calendar counts down to Christmas as the child opens a little door or pocket, etc. each day to reveal some small treasure that is hidden. My Advent calendar – compliments of my mom – uses little felt nativity figures. One day a magi is revealed, another day a lamb or an angel, right up to the day before Christmas or Christmas day itself. By then, the scene is complete, baby Jesus and all.

The nativity figures, after being removed from that day's pocket, door, box or envelope, etc., could be ornaments that get hung on the tree or used to assemble a separate nativity scene. There are child-friendly creches available now that are unbreakable (see links below for purchased Advent calendars). A Portion of the Christmas story could be read, corresponding to the nativity figurine for that day until it is completed on the last day.

Start Now to Assemble Your Advent Calendar

There are a multitude of ideas available below. Also, click on the different photos in this post for links to tutorials, etc. If you start now, you should have more than enough time to be ready by December 1st. Take a look at the following links to get started; and don't forget to involve the kiddos in putting the calendar together.

http://craftastica.blogspot.com/2008/11/recycle-bin-advent-calendar.html

http://allsorts.typepad.com/allsorts/2007/11/advent-calendar.html

http://ourhouse.typepad.com/full_circle/2007/12/advent.html

http://blisstree.com/live/advent-calendar-from-recycled-tins-150/?utm_source=blisstree&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=b5hubs_migration

http://www.diyfather.com/content/how-to-make-your-own-advent-calendar-for-kids

http://www.craftideas.info/html/advent_calender.html

http://www.craftideas.info/html/advent_calender_2.html

http://www.flickr.com/groups/561389@N24/

LINK TO THE ORIGINAL SITE:

Tender Beef N Bean Stew

November 08, 2010 Courtney No comments

So I love fall. What can I say, cool winds, falling orange, yellow and brown leaves…And comfort food. The kind of food where it simmers all day and you must leave the house between noon and five so that you aren’t tempted to eat it all before dinner comes!

Well here’s a recipe for you to enjoy. It has all the comforts of home with less calories because the dairy toppings are optional, and very few starches leave you room to add whatever crusty roll/baguette you feel like.

This seriously only takes 20 minutes to prep!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds of grass fed beef stew meat cut into 1 inch pieces

2 Cans of kidney beans drained and rinsed thoroughly

1 Can diced tomatoes, undrained (or two small fresh tomatoes, diced)

1 1/2 cups frozen corn

1 large potato chopped

1 Cup hot water *

1 Cup chopped onion

2 Celery ribs chopped

1 Can chopped green chili’s (4 oz can)

2 Tablespoons uncooked long grain rice

1-2 Tablespoons chili powder (to taste)

2 Teaspoons beef bouillon granules (or just supplement beef broth for water*)

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 Can of tomato sauce-8 oz
Optional Toppings: Cheddar cheese and sour cream
Get yer’ crockpot out and turn it on…warm it up! In a large stock pot, put a little oil and heat pan until oil just begins to smoke. Braise meat for approx five minutes and throw onions and chili powder in towards the end. While beef is braising, place all other ingredients (other than toppings) into crock pot and them add the meat, onions and spices. Stir thoroughly.
Cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4 hours.

This recipe claims to serve 10 people, but I managed four adults, two slightly hungry preschoolers and one toddler and it was totally gone.

Add a green salad and a crusty sourdough roll and you have more than a complete meal!

Bon Giorno

Monthly Archives: November 2010

A Culture of Stuff

Photo source

Help me think of other easy, but good ways to give!

Just Like The Leaves

Just Like the Leaves

My Cup is Overflowing…

My cup truly overflows with blessings.

My Husband’s Grandfather ~ My Fondest Memories

Surviving the Holidays

Photo Source

Purposefully

Photo Source

Peacefully

Practically

Photo Source

Prayerfully

How will YOU enter the season?

Granola Bars

Natural Granola Bars

Swagbucks

Beignet Recipe

Advent…Something to look forward to

Written by Sharon Kaufman, Contributing Writer for Keeper of the Home.org

What and When is Advent?

Why Do People Celebrate Advent?

The Advent Calendar – A Wonderful Way to Teach Your Child About the Gospel

Start Now to Assemble Your Advent Calendar

Tender Beef N Bean Stew

So I love fall. What can I say, cool winds, falling orange, yellow and brown leaves…And comfort food. The kind of food where it simmers all day and you must leave the house between noon and five so that you aren’t tempted to eat it all before dinner comes!

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Monthly Archives: November 2010

Help me think of other easy, but good ways to give!

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Just Like the Leaves

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My cup truly overflows with blessings.

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Purposefully

Peacefully

Practically

Prayerfully

How will YOU enter the season?

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Natural Granola Bars

Related posts:

Related posts:

Related posts:

Written by Sharon Kaufman, Contributing Writer for Keeper of the Home.org

What and When is Advent?

Why Do People Celebrate Advent?

The Advent Calendar – A Wonderful Way to Teach Your Child About the Gospel

Start Now to Assemble Your Advent Calendar

Related posts:

So I love fall. What can I say, cool winds, falling orange, yellow and brown leaves…And comfort food. The kind of food where it simmers all day and you must leave the house between noon and five so that you aren’t tempted to eat it all before dinner comes!

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